Saturday, March 20, 2010

Examples of Ethnic Slurs

These terms are disrespectful (if not offensive) when used by a person outside the ethnic demographic group, to refer to a person of that demographic group.

Cheena (චීනා) - Person of chineese origin
Demala (දෙමළා) - Used by the Sinhala majority to refer to a person of Tamil origin. Even though the proper Sinhala noun to refer a Tamil ethic group is Demala (දෙමළ), when used in this sense it is regarded as disrespectful. (Note the ending vowel 'අ' vs. 'ආ')
Dambaya (දඹයා) - Relatively new term to refer to a person of Indian nationality. (Living in India). This term is used mostly by office workers of Sri Lanka, who also interact with Indians; Also by Sri Lankan diaspora living abroad. Derivative from the word 'Dambadiva' (දඹදිව), which is used to refer to the ancient India.
Hambaya (හම්බයා) - Rather outdated term to refer to a person of Muslim origin.
Kalla (කල්ලා) - Person with a dark skin. Can refer to a person with African origin. This terms is also used by Sri Lankan diaspora living in USA to refer to an African American
Japana - Person of Japanese origine.
Kallathoni (කල්ලතෝනි) - Refers to any illegal immigrant or non-citizan, especially from India.
Kochchiya (කොච්චියා) - Rather outdated term to refer to a person of Indian origin.
Lansiya (ලන්සියා) or Lan(g)siya (ලංසියා) - Used by the Sinhala majority to refer to a Burgher person of Dutch origin, living in Sri Lanka.
Mattaya (මට්ටයා) - Used by the Sinhala/Tamil majority to refer to a person of Muslim origin hailing from East of the island (Ampara, Pothuvil, Madakalapuwa area).
Mækka (මැක්කා) or Mæssa (මැස්සා) - Person of Mexican (Hispanic) origin. This term is used by Sri Lankan diaspora living in USA.
Otuwa (ඔටුවා) - Person of Arabic origin. Specially the males wearing Thawb and Agal. This term is used by Sri Lankan diaspora living in Middle East region.
Pakka (පක්කා) - Male of Pakistani origin - typically wearing Shalwar Kameez. This term is used by Sri Lankan diaspora living in Middle East region.
Sakkiliya (සක්කිලියා) - Derived from a name of a Dalit like caste that came over relatively recently from India. Originally used by the Sinhalese majority as a pejorative. Usually refers to a very unhygienic or uncultured person, who lacks basic manners.
Sudda (සුද්දා) - Used by the Sinhala/Tamil majority to refer to a person of white caucasian or European origin. Generally refers all pale white-skinned people, and literal translation is 'white one'.
Thalaya (තලයා) - Used by the Sinhala majority to refer to a person of Tamil origin from North (Jaffna). Refers to the excessive use of Thala Thel(or gingelly oil) by this community.
Thambiya (තම්බියා) - Used by the Sinhala majority to refer to a person of Muslim origin. The literal meaning of 'Thambi' is younger brother (in Tamil), Originally, this must have been used not as an offensive term but an affectionate one.