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Can we have a rule that prevents using the word "American/s" to refer to Usonians? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I understand some people may not even realize it's a word that puts yankees before all the rest of America, or that English didn't have a better word like Spanish (Estadounidense) and other languages do, but I feel that since this is a pretty big community and one where the word will be out there a lot could be an opportunity to help spread a better word that does not minimizes a lot of oppressed people.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 years ago (1 children)

I don't think it's any better since you still have Mexico which is a really oppressed country by the US and Canada which is not, but has a lot of minorities who still are North Americans.

Still I don't think that the fact that other language uses a derogatory word is any excuse to perpetuate that in another one, and it's not like we can transform the meaning of the word like some communities have done in order to adopt it as part of their culture; e.g. queer, gay, etc.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 years ago

Well, I just began using 'North' added to American so that at least it was a tiny bit closer to factual. USonian is such an awkward name. I am not opposed to accuracy, though. Ya can't please everyone, so it is a waste of time to try too hard. Besides, who owns language? No one. It is fluid.