Racial tension in the Czech Republic

[Formaldehyde]

How can you get offended by etymology?

Origin

from Middle Dutch dutsch ‘Dutch, Netherlandish, German’: the English word originally denoted speakers of both High and Low German, but became more specific after the United Provinces adopted the Low German of Holland as the national language on independence in 1579.

 

[Winner]

What the hell are we supposed to call them then if "Roma" and "Gypsy" are both suspect??

"Roma" is the accepted and über-PC term in the Czech Rep. (local form: "Romové"). They refer by it to themselves, so I don't know where they got the notion that it is pejorative. Definitely not pejorative here.

 

[Kyriakos]

"Gypsy" probably was not widely pejorative either in the past, judging by some music bands and an award winning movie (whose title was translated in English as "Time of the Gypsies").

Although i would not use gypsy in this country, cause it is a negative term. Athigan(os) seems to be normal.

 

[Borachio]

As a person who is actually Dutch (which is certainly something else than German) I feel deeply offended by this statement.

Well, I'm sorry for your feeling of deep offence.

I'd have thought you'd describe yourself as a Nederlander(?). As Mr Formaldehyde says, etymology is what it is.

 

[Tahuti]

How can you get offended by etymology?

Well, I'm sorry for your feeling of deep offence.

I'd have thought you'd describe yourself as a Nederlander(?). As Mr Formaldehyde says, etymology is what it is.

Actually, I wasn't offended, just wanted to see how you would react to it!

However, you might have noticed that you have Pennsylvania Dutch, even though they are actually, German. And yes, prior to the foundation of the political concept of Germany in the early 19th century, Duytsch was an acceptable terms for things that are Dutch - though it may not have exclusively meant that, and may have been homonymous with "German" as well.

In fact, the Dutch national anthems sings of "Duytschen bloed" which may mean Dutch blood. However, again, this is confusing since William of Orange was actually born in present-day Germany and it could well have pertained to that. The Netherlands were formerly of the Holy Roman Empire (of the German nation) and since the Dutch Republic was one of the more prominent states in what was the Holy Roman Empire until 1648, alongside Prussia and Austria, English-speakers may have mixed up Duytsch with anything pertaining to the Netherlands. Like "Deutsch" (the German word for 'German'), 'Duytsch' comes from Teut, meaning people and has a way more general meaning. However, Netherlandic in place of Dutch is not really necessary since the "other Dutch" are already called Germans in English.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Actually, I wasn't offended, just wanted to see how you would react to it!

Of course you weren't.