Jul

29

JAPs.

Filed Under Language | Leave a Comment

When I was twelve, my family abruptly moved from San Ramon, California to South Orange, New Jersey. Leaving behind what were at the time a number of rather close friends, I resolved to keep in touch, with ultimately disappointing results. One way in which touch was kept was via the dominant communication device of the day: the touchtone telephone.

I recalled the other day a particular telephone call with a childhood friend, Matt Kolda. I had recently learned a new-to-me term at my Jewish-heavy middle school: JAP. Jewish American Princess. The California school I had attended was decidedly lacking in Jews. And although I knew Mr. Kolda had recently moved to a new school, I suspected the ethnic makeup was not radically different. And so I had good reason to expect I learned the term “JAP” before Mr. Kolda.

Showing off my superior knowledge backfired, however, for reasons that may already be apparent. See “JAP” sounds exactly like “Jap” over the telephone. And so when I absurdly asked, “do you have any JAPs in your new school? Because my new school is lousy with them,” he heard “do you have any Japs in your new school?” Japs, as a somewhat derogatory term for people of Japanese descent. Predictably, he got offended. And I had to explain, no, no, I’m not asking about Japanese-Americans…I’m asking about spoiled Ashkenazim…and inexplicably comparing them to lice…oops…I seem to have saved myself from one mildly offensive statement by diverting into a fairly deep river of offense. Ugh.

Lesson learned: be careful in how you go about sharing new words and concepts.


Comments

Name (required)

Email (required)

Website

Speak your mind