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Diversity in Diction - Equality in Action

A Guide to the Appropriate Use of Language

3. Race, Colour, Nationality and Ethnicity and Language

Racial discrimination is prejudicial treatment of people on the grounds of race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin. Racially discriminatory behaviour by anyone serves to reinforce prejudicial attitudes amongst others. It also undermines the confidence of the community, particularly black and minority ethnic (BME) people, in our commitment to provide an appropriate and professional service to everyone.

Language is an important expression of and pre-cursor to behaviour. Inappropriate use of language may be regarded as an indication of the insincerity of our commitment to eliminating racial discrimination and promoting good race relations. Few would condone the use of racially abusive words, but language with negative racial connotations also needs to be challenged because its usage can help to reinforce and perpetuate inaccurate racial stereotypes.

Ethnicity

Everyone has an ethnic identity based on shared geography, cultural tradition, language or religion. Using the phrase 'people of ethnic origin' suggests that only some groups are 'ethnic' and this is clearly untrue. The expression 'ethnic' or 'ethnics' used in isolation to refer either to individuals or to sections of the community is unacceptable. The term 'minority ethnic' is a more suitable alternative.

Grouping people by ethnic background may not always be useful and can lead to misunderstanding. There are, of course, cultural similarities between some groups of people, but there are likely to be as many, if not more, differences. Making assumptions about an individual's needs on the basis of their ethnic and cultural background may cause problems, because in addition to potential stereotyping, assumptions can result in a failure to address needs appropriately and effectively.

In circumstances where it is necessary to refer to someone's race or ethnicity, and you are uncertain about the terminology to use, ask them how they wish to be described.

Black

The term 'Black' is often used in a political sense to include all people who share a common experience of discrimination because of their race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin. Others take 'Black' more literally to mean someone with very dark skin. Some people of Asian background find the term offensive when applied to them, while other people will not wish to be called 'Black' because of its political connotations.

In most cases there is no objection to 'Black' being used as a description, but it should be as an adjective: 'a Black person' or 'the Black community', not as a noun as in 'Blacks' or 'there's another Black'.

Asian

It is generally appropriate to use the term 'Asian'. However there may be circumstances where it might not be acceptable to make broad references to groups, or to identify people together as Asian.

Asia is a vast continent, incorporating many countries, so the term 'Asian' is not very specific. Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people, for example, may prefer to be referred to as such rather than by the broad term 'Asian'. On the other hand, 'South East Asian' may be a more appropriate term to describe Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese people, all of whom may prefer to be identified separately.

 

West Indian, Afro-Caribbean, African Caribbean

The term 'West Indian' was used in this country as an all-encompassing phrase to describe first generation settlers from the Caribbean. It is an historical term and although still used in some circumstances (for example, the West Indian Cricket Team) in most contexts it is inappropriate and may be found offensive.

Both 'Afro-Caribbean' and 'African-Caribbean' are used in official documentation to refer to black people. However, they may well be offensive to people who were born in Britain. The term 'Afro-Caribbean' is generally now deemed to be unacceptable even though it continues to be in fairly common usage. The term 'African-Caribbean' may be used, but only when referring to specific geographical origins. Otherwise, 'Black' is a more appropriate term to use.

Mixed Ethnicity, Mixed Race, Dual/Mixed Parentage/Heritage

These terms describe people who are of mixed ethnic origin. Some people may prefer to identify themselves as 'Black' or 'White' or according to their cultural or ethnic origins, rather than some sort of mixture. When describing or recording ethnicity, 'mixed ethnicity', 'mixed ethnic group' or 'mixed ethnic origin' are the most appropriate terms and should be used in place of 'half caste' which should be avoided. There are varied opinions about the acceptability of 'mixed race' and 'dual/mixed parentage/heritage'. They are not inappropriate as such, but are less well accepted and may offend some people.

Non-Visible Minority Ethnic Groups

There are many groups which fall under this heading, a few of the most obvious where inappropriate language is often used have been identified. It is unacceptable to use terms such as 'Paddy', or 'Mick' to refer to Irish people or 'Taff' for Welsh or 'Jock' for people from Scotland. It must be stressed that this does not mean that individuals may not choose to answer to these names. Likewise, 'Yidds' is an unacceptable term to describe Jewish people, while terms like 'Spick', 'Dago', 'Argies', 'Krauts' and Wop' are also unacceptable.

Gypsies and Travellers

Of the 200,000 to 300,000 travellers in England, by far the largest group are Romany Gypsies, who have been in England since the early 16th century. Romany Gypsies and Irish travellers, who have been travelling in England as a distinct social group since the 1800s, are each recognised in law as separate racial groups. It is inappropriate to refer to Gypsies or travellers as 'Gippos', 'tinkers' or 'pikies'.

Immigrants

This term is commonly applied to people from ethnic minorities. They are rarely if ever used to describe those white migrants who relocate with their jobs or businesses.

People can be correctly described as immigrants, if they have just moved from another country. However, people from many different minority ethnic groups have been settled in the UK for long periods, and most were born here. The term can therefore be misleading and inaccurate, and should be avoided.

The term 'migrant worker' is enshrined in European law to denote anyone who is working in a country other than their country of origin. However, the terms 'migrant' and 'economic migrant' are often used inaccurately to describe asylum seekers and should not be used in this way.

Unacceptable Terminology

The following are terms which have highly racist overtones. Historically, they originate from outdated social theories about black people, are extremely offensive and should not be used in normal circumstances:-

Paki

Although an abbreviation of 'Pakistani', this term has for many years been used as a term of abuse. It is therefore extremely offensive and should not be used. The term also tends to be used generally for Asian people, irrespective of their national origins, such as Indian or Bangladeshi. There are other similar abbreviated terms for national or ethnic origins, for example 'Chinky' and 'Itie' which are intentionally derogatory and should not be used.

Coloured

Historically 'coloured' has been used to emphasise not only the difference, but the unequal status of people from minority ethnic backgrounds in relation to white people. 'Coloured' was also used by the South African apartheid regime to classify those who were neither 'black' nor 'white'. None of us are 'colourless' and the concept of 'coloured' is rather meaningless. This term should not be used.

In the United States the term 'people of color' (American spelling) has become quite commonplace. However, this is not generally accepted in Britain for similar reasons to the term 'coloured'.

Non-white

Referring to 'non-whites' classifies people only by their exclusion from the 'white' group and should be avoided. It is better to refer to the specific ethnic group if known, or to 'people from minority ethnic groups' or 'people from minority ethnic backgrounds'.

Language and its Connotations

Many words and phrases, whilst not offensive in themselves, carry heavy negative connotations. It is therefore important to avoid certain terms which use 'black' to portray negativity. Terms such as:

have no direct link to skin colour, but potentially serve to reinforce a negative view of all things black.

Equally certain terms imply a negative image of 'Black' by reinforcing the positive aspects of 'White'. For example, in the context of being above suspicion the phrase 'whiter than white' is often used. 'Purer than pure' or 'cleaner than clean' are alternatives which do not infer that anything other than white should be regarded with suspicion.

Similarly the term 'play the white man' implies that neither Black people nor women are fair and honest. 'Play the game' or 'be fair' are more neutral alternatives.

However, it is perfectly acceptable to use 'black' to describe colour as in:

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