|
The noun Polack ( or ; also Pollack, Pollock, Polock), in the contemporary English language, is a derogatory reference to a person of Polish descent.〔(Dictionary.com definition for "Polack". )〕 It is an Anglicisation of the Polish language word ''Polak'', which can mean a Polish male person or a person of Polish nationality (feminine being ''Polka''), with a neutral connotation. However, the English loanword "Polack" (note the spelling difference which does not appear in Polish) is considered an ethnic slur in the United States and the United Kingdom, and therefore is considered insulting in nearly all modern usages. # ''Slang: Disparaging and Offensive'' (Random House Unabridged Dictionary) # ''Offensive Slang'' used as a disparaging term for a person of Polish birth or descent (The American Heritage Dictionary) ==History== According to Online Etymology Dictionary by Douglas Harper, "Polack" meant as "Polish immigrant, person of Polish descent" was used in American English until the late 19th century (1879) to describe a "Polish person" in a non-offensive way (1574). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) based on the Unabridged Dictionary by Random House claims that the word originated between 1590–1600. For example, Shakespeare uses the term ''Polacks'' in his tragedy ''Hamlet'' to refer to opponents of Hamlet's father. A quote is given below: :''Such was the very armour he had on'' :''When he the ambitious Norway combated:'' :''So frowned he once, when in an angry parle'' :''He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice'' In an Irish-published edition of ''Hamlet'' by the ''Educational Company'', Patrick Murray noted: "Some editors, however, argue that ''Polacks'' should read as ''pole-axe'', and that Horatio is remembering an angry Old Hamlet striking the ice with his battle-axe".〔The Educational Company, ( William Shakespeare's Hamlet edited with notes by Patrick Murray ), ISBN 0-86167-003-5 p.54〕 On July 26, 2008, ''The Times'' newspaper from the United Kingdom featured a comment piece by restaurant reviewer and columnist Giles Coren (known for his profanity-strewn complaints),〔Matthew Moore, ( "Restaurant reviewer Giles Coren abuses colleagues in leaked email." ) ''Telegraph Media Group'', 11 September 2008.〕 containing general anti-Polish sentiment.〔("I have never ended on an unstressed syllable!" ) Media. ''The Guardian''.〕 In a piece, entitled "Two waves of immigration, Poles apart"〔("Two waves of immigration, Poles apart" - ''Times Online'' )〕 Coren used the racial slur 'Polack' to describe Polish immigrants who can "clear off". He went on to articulate his views about the role of Poles in the Holocaust in occupied Poland. The piece prompted a letter of complaint to ''The Times'' from the Polish ambassador to the UK, Barbara Tuge-Erecinska. She wrote that "the issue of Polish-Jewish relations has been unfairly and deeply falsified" by his "aggressive remarks" and "contempt".〔("Poland’s role in the Holocaust" - ''Times Online'' )〕 Coren's comments caused the Federation of Poles in Great Britain to demand a published apology from ''The Times'' under threat of an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission, which has the power to force an apology.〔(Giles Coren Times article prompts Polish complaints to PCC | Media | guardian.co.uk )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Polack」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|