Asian

The term Asian in a geographical sense simply refers to something or someone from Asia. However the term has evolved in popular usage to often mean a person from a specific part of Asia rather than the continent as a whole. Its precise use varies depending on who is using it, where it is being used, and in which context it is being used in.

'Asian' in other English-speaking countries

In the United States, Canada, and Australasia, since approximately 1990, "Asian" has been used to refer to people from China, Japan, Korea and other East Asian countries. "Asian" is often considered a more polite (or, some would say, more politically correct) alternative to "Oriental". This is partially due to the perception amongst some in academia that the term "Orientalism" is now associated with the European colonial attitude toward the Ottoman East.

Related Topics:
United States - Canada - Australasia - 1990 - China - Japan - Korea - East Asian - Politically correct - Oriental - Orientalism - Colonial - Ottoman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To avoid the confusion that sometimes occurs, the term "East Asian" is sometimes used to distinguish people from South-East Asia, China, Japan, and Korea, and "South Asian" for Indians, Pakistanis and Bangaldeshis (or, more commonly, in North America, "Asian Indians" and "East Indians"). It should be noted that both of these clarifications are relatively formal, and are used only when it is necessary to make a distinction between the group concerned and other Asian peoples.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

'Asian' in the US Census

In the US Census, the term Asian refers to all of these peoples, whether their racial origins are in the Far East (East Asia), Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. However, respondents are allowed to indicate more precise racial groupings, such as "Asian Indian", "Chinese", "Filipino", "Korean", "Japanese", "Vietnamese", Burmese, Hmong, Pakistani, Laotian, Thai or "Other Asian".

Related Topics:
US Census - Far East - East Asia - Southeast Asia - Indian subcontinent - Asian Indian - Chinese - Filipino - Korean - Japanese - Vietnamese - Burmese - Hmong - Pakistani - Laotian - Thai

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Far East (East-Asian American) : China/Chinese American, Japan/Japanese American, Mongolia/Mongolian American, South Korea/South-Korean American, and Taiwan/Taiwanese American.

Related Topics:
Far East - China - Chinese American - Japan - Japanese American - Mongolia - South Korea - Korean American - Taiwan - Taiwanese American

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Southeast Asia (Southeast-Asian American): Brunei/Bruneian American, Burma/Burmese American, Cambodia/Cambodian American, East Timor/Timorese American, Indonesia/Indonesian American, Laos/Laotian American, Malaysia/Malaysian American, The Philippines/Filipino American, Singapore/Singaporean American, Thailand/Thai American, and Vietnam/Vietnamese American.

Related Topics:
Southeast Asia - Brunei - Burma - Cambodia - East Timor - Indonesia - Laos - Malaysia - Philippines - Filipino American - Singapore - Thailand - Vietnam - Vietnamese American

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Indian Subcontinent (South-Asian American) : Bangladesh/Bangladeshi American, Bhutan/Bhutanese American, India/Asian-Indian American,The Maldives/Maldivian American, Pakistan/Pakistani American.

Related Topics:
Indian Subcontinent - Bangladesh - Bhutan - India - Indian American - Maldives - Pakistan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The US Census's definition of "Asian" does not, however include Arabs, or other peoples living in the Near East or Middle East.

Related Topics:
Arab - Near East - Middle East

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~