(November 2, 2016 at 5:11 pm)abaris Wrote:(November 2, 2016 at 4:16 pm)Doubting Thomas Wrote: Um, yes it is. It's a derogatory term for Asians based upon a physical characteristic which they have no control over. I don't think you can make "slit eye" or "slant eye" not racist in any context.
It's the strongest anti asian word you can find in the German language. I guess it's even stronger than the english translation. I wouldn't know of anything more racist to say about asians (in my language) than that, even if I wanted to. And believe me, keeping up with swear words always was one of my hobbies.
Think of the strongest english word used to describe a black person... Hint: kinda sounds like the spanish word for black.. Second hint: according to etymology online it is derived from French nègre, from Spanish negro, words that simply mean black..
Now, hopefully you were able to figure out which word i was refering to.
Point, it sounds like your slit eyes is the german equivalent to the English version of French nègre.
Now as bad as it sounds and has hateful as the word has now come to represent. It is still used as a term of endearment. given the correct context.
The point I am making is a word is defined by contextual usage not societal taboo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_IXzU-lnLU
