Nigger

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The word "nigger" (often referred to as "the N-word" in polite discourse) is a racist slang term used to refer to people with dark skin, generally of African descent. It stems from the Latin word niger, meaning 'black'.[1] It probably came to English via a roundabout route through another European language, many of which derive their word for "black" from the Latin (e.g. "negro" in Spanish, "nero" (not that Nero) in Italian, "noir" in French).[2]

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[edit] Etymology

Historically, it was a common term to use for referring to dark-skinned folk, along with "negro," and was derived from the Latin word for "black." However, at some point during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it came to be regarded as derogatory. The use of "nigger" is now almost universally seen as inherently racist, with the exception being the reappropriation by some African-Americans of the term.

"Negro" has in turn gradually lost its acceptability over the past 40 years or so, to the point where it now just barely acceptable and even then only in some contexts.[3] Changing attitudes to racial differences furthered this trend, as did the civil rights movement, and the rise of political correctness. The continually shifting connotations of racial terms is reflected in the fact that organizations such as the United Negro College Fund and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People continue as respected and decidedly non-racist entities.

[edit] Modern usage

Sociologist Randall Kennedy's 2002 book, Nigger, notes that one of the primary functions of the word in its modern incarnation is a way of "roping off cultural turf".[4] As such, it is commonly used in hip-hop culture and the inner city. Frequently, friendly pronunciations of "nigger" are shifted markedly to "niggah," with the softened "r" serving as an important identifier of intention. In such a context, "nigga" can be a way of asserting cultural distinctiveness, while "nigger" remains a derogatory slur.

It has, on occasion, been humorously remarked upon that black people can use the term "nigger", but white people cannot.[5] "Damn niggers moved in and shot my son" is unacceptable racist bigotry if said by a white guy, but is the height of wit for a black guy. For the most egregious examples, just visit Youtube and enter "Chris Rock". This apparent double standard has sometimes been played for laughs in some popular culture. In Rush Hour, Chris Tucker walks into a bar and casually greets a friend with "what's up, my nigger", while when his partner Jackie Chan repeats the same thing a few moments later it ends in a fight.[6]

[edit] Similar-sounding words

Every now and then there's a controversy where someone gets in trouble for using the completely unrelated word "niggardly", which means "miserly" and has an unrelated etymology.[7] During these flare-ups groups such as the NAACP, and just about everyone else for that matter, take a hard stand to defend the dictionary and remind people to consult it before getting into a huff.

There also have been moments of confusion when the Korean pronoun/phrase "니가" (nii-ga, you, informal) or "내가" (nae-ga, I, informal) have been misconstrued as "nigger" [8][9]. This is one of those unfortunate coincidences of embarrassing false cognates across languages (such as how "embarazada" might plausibly be assumed to be the Spanish word for 'embarrassed', it in actuality means 'pregnant').

As is usually the case, the crackers ripped off the niggers and start using the word, slightly modified for themselves. Much as the blues became "rock and roll," "nigger" has been corrupted as well. As such, a white person who thinks their Snoop Dogg mp3s mean they embrace "urban culture" may be referred to as a "wigger" (or "whigger"), a portmanteau of "white nigger" - someone who is white but who thinks they "act black."

[edit] Effect

Curiously, studies have shown that the mere use of the word "nigger" to describe a black person can prejudice listeners against that person. In one such study, test subjects were asked to judge scripted debates between white and black contestants. After the debate and before the subjects gave their assessment, an assistant to the experimenters would refer to the black contestants neutrally, negatively, or negatively while using "nigger." Those subjects whose deliberations were tainted by the inflammatory term were much more likely to judge the black debater harshly.[10]

[edit] Footnotes

  1. http://www.latinwordlist.com/latin-words/niger-19897685.htm
  2. Even Esperanto is affected, where the word is "nigra". Does this make Esperanto racist? Quite possibly; Esperanto is already somewhat sexist.
  3. Kinda like how "people of color" replaced "colored people." We don't get it either.
  4. Kennedy, Randall. 2002. Nigger. New York: Vintage Books.
  5. Except Quentin Tarantino, and one highly contrived exception.
  6. Rush Hour - What's up my nigger?
  7. The OED states that it is of obscure etymology, from the same base as the Middle English "nigon", implying a French origin. But seriously, unless you are discussing Geoffrey Chaucer or something similar-- just say "miserly" (or stingy, or any number of other words).
  8. The Bus Incident: 24-yr-old American Goes Ballistic, among others
  9. Youtube Video of Psy's "Champion". Note the comments.
  10. Greenburg, Jeff and Tom Pyszczynki. 1985. "The Effect of an Overheard Ethnic Slur on Evaluations of the Target." Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 61: 21.
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