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SirLance · 01-27-2006, 10:53 AM

We had a similar issue in AZ with people finding offense in the word "Squaw." They demanded that places with such names be renamed.

'Squaw' is one of a number of words in English that were borrowed from Eastern Algonquian languages, sometimes via French, during the early contact period. In this case, the word "squas" in Massachusett, which meant "young woman" is seen by linguists as the origin of the word "squaw." This is attested as early as 1624. In fact, related words derived from Proto-Algonquian occur throughout the Algonquian language family.

Recently 'squaw' has been spuriously associated with a fairly obscure Mohawk slang term "otsískwa", which means 'female genitalia'. This association appears to date back to 1974, and was then popularized in a television interview by Suzan Harjo.

The socially sensitive are so incredibly outraged, and have captured popular imagination so effectively, that the long known actual explanation in terms of Massachussett tends to get overlooked.

There's an interesting article here .

It seems that people can choose to be offended by terms that have been used offensively, even if there are other, positive uses. Yes, "coon" is a racial epithet in that context but otherwise is a common slang term for racoon. Squaw was never an offensive term until someone decided it was meant that way, even though the context of use was never offensive.

I think these folks need to get over it, and the rest of us need to speak up. Just because something CAN be offensive in one context doesn't mean it IS offensive in all contexts. This kind of silliness should be reigned in.

01-27-2006, 10:53 AM	#27 (permalink)
SirLance Junkie Location: In the middle of the desert.	We had a similar issue in AZ with people finding offense in the word "Squaw." They demanded that places with such names be renamed. 'Squaw' is one of a number of words in English that were borrowed from Eastern Algonquian languages, sometimes via French, during the early contact period. In this case, the word "squas" in Massachusett, which meant "young woman" is seen by linguists as the origin of the word "squaw." This is attested as early as 1624. In fact, related words derived from Proto-Algonquian occur throughout the Algonquian language family. Recently 'squaw' has been spuriously associated with a fairly obscure Mohawk slang term "otsískwa", which means 'female genitalia'. This association appears to date back to 1974, and was then popularized in a television interview by Suzan Harjo. The socially sensitive are so incredibly outraged, and have captured popular imagination so effectively, that the long known actual explanation in terms of Massachussett tends to get overlooked. There's an interesting article here . It seems that people can choose to be offended by terms that have been used offensively, even if there are other, positive uses. Yes, "coon" is a racial epithet in that context but otherwise is a common slang term for racoon. Squaw was never an offensive term until someone decided it was meant that way, even though the context of use was never offensive. I think these folks need to get over it, and the rest of us need to speak up. Just because something *CAN* be offensive in one context doesn't mean it IS offensive in all contexts. This kind of silliness should be reigned in. __________________ DEMOCRACY is where your vote counts, FEUDALISM is where your count votes.