[Karen S]

I teach communication and my class is researching intercultural communication. We would like to know the following: Do Middle Easterners find it offensive to be called Arabs or A-rabs? Is Middle Easterner the correct term? What is preferred?

User Detail :  

Name : Karen S, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, City : Staten, State : NC Country : United States, Occupation : teacher, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ann L. Lowenstein]

Here's a suggestion: Call the ones from Saudi Arabia 'Saudi's'. Call the ones from Iran 'Iranians.' Call the ones from Yemen 'Yemeites'. Call the ones from Jordan 'Jordanians'. Get it? Dumbass.

User Detail :  

Name : Ann L. Lowenstein, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Animist, Age : 37, City : K.C., State : MO Country : United States, Occupation : Administrative Assistant, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Frank]

Is Apple or A-pple? Is it I-talian or Italian? The 'a'is short in 'apple'. Pretty simple.

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Name : Frank, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Pagan, Age : 38, City : Los Angeles, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : Military, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Teresa28685]

The 'correct' term is going to vary with each person. It depends on the ethnicity, country, culture, and family. One thing you must not forget: do not call someone an Arab if he is not an Arab! Other peoples live in the Middle East, not just Arabs, and Arab people live in places outside of the Middle East (like North Africa). You can't use 'Arab' and 'Middle Easterner' interchangably. Turks, Persians (Iranians), and Jews aren't Arabs, and they're native to what we may call the Middle East. The best way is to find out what the person calls himself, or find out his country of origin.

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Name : Teresa28685, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 21, City : Gurnee, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : student, 

[Melanie]

A-rab is considered offensive because it is mispronounced. People who are of Arab descent have no problems with the term - Remember, not all people in the Middle East are Arab. There are Persians (mainly in Iran), Palestinians (all over), Kurd... it goes on and on. It is based on a tribal past and needs to be respected. Calling someone from Iran A-rab would really piss them off. Especially because A-rab is how some people in America mispronounce it in a derogitory way.

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Name : Melanie, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 28, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : international relations, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[DannyH]

Unless you are an Alabamian from A-rab, Alabama. It's pronounced with a long A. But when used to describe someone of Arabic descent it's pronounced with a short A. And for the record, there has never been a Palestinian people. The people we call the Palestinians today were disaffected Jordanians kicked out of Jordan when Israel was re-formed. There has never been a Palestinian people, nor a Palestinian country. Life's a banquet and most poor bastards are starving to death!

User Detail :  

Name : DannyH, Gender : Male, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Asatru, Age : 45, City : Buon, State : NA Country : South Korea, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dot]

Iranians living in the U.S. preferred to be called Persian. They WILL correct you, trust me.

User Detail :  

Name : Dot, Gender : Female, Age : none, City : L.A., State : CA Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

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