Chapter 5: Word Traps – How Language Can Mislead

Words are powerful. They carry history and points of view. Because English is used so widely today, often led by English-speaking countries like the UK and USA (the Anglophone world), certain words have spread that can be misleading. These words sometimes support old colonial ideas, racial prejudice, or views that mainly benefit Anglophone societies. If we don’t notice these word traps, they can shape how we think without us realizing it. This chapter will show you some common traps so you can spot them and think for yourself.

Who Owns English?

People in English-speaking countries sometimes act like they own the English language. They treat dictionaries from the US or UK as the final word on what’s “correct.” If people in other parts of the world speak English differently, using their own local words or ways of speaking, they might be mocked or told they are wrong. This attitude tries to stop English from changing naturally as it spreads around the world. It suggests only one way of speaking English – usually American or British – is right.

Here are some specific words used in English that can cause problems or carry hidden meanings:

• Vernacular: Sometimes used to mean “any language besides English.” This can sound like English is the normal standard and other languages are less important.
• Ethnic: Often used for things related to people who aren’t white or from the main English-speaking cultures (like “ethnic food” or “ethnic music”). This sets up an “us vs. them” feeling, where white/Anglo culture is treated as the default, and everything else is “ethnic.”
• Pagan / Heathen / Infidel: Old words used by colonizers and missionaries to look down on people who didn’t follow their religions (like Christianity, Judaism, Islam). These words were used to treat others as less human. Even today, the negative feelings behind these words can affect how some people view native or non-Western beliefs.
• Western Country: This term is tricky. People say it refers to countries sharing certain values or levels of development. But mostly, it means countries where the majority population is white (including Australia and New Zealand, which are geographically in the East). It often leaves out highly developed non-white countries like South Korea or Japan. This way of grouping countries puts Europe and North America at the center. Even when people point to things like quality of life, a country like South Korea isn’t usually called ‘Western’.
• Conservative / Far-Right: Political labels from English-speaking countries often get used worldwide. In the US or UK, “conservative” might describe certain right-leaning views, even if those views include prejudice against non-white people [TODO: Elaborate on common values associated with Anglo conservatism and potential biases]. But when people in other countries hold similar or less extreme views, they might be quickly labeled “far-right,” especially if their views go against Anglo interests or norms.
• Terrorist / Terrorism vs. Mass Shooter: Notice how violence is described. When non-white people commit violent acts, especially Arabs or Muslims after 9/11 (or the Irish in the past), it’s often called “terrorism.” But when white people do similar things, it’s often called a “mass shooting.” The reasons given might be mental health problems or gun laws. This takes away the political reason behind the act and makes it sound less threatening than “terrorism.” Often, a mass shooter is just a terrorist who happens to be white.
• Third World Country: This is an old term from the Cold War era, but people still use it. It often sounds insulting, suggesting a country is undeveloped or “backward.” It promotes the idea that nations are ranked, with the English-speaking “First World” at the top. (Sometimes people say “Global South” instead, which might be slightly better, but it still lumps together many different developing countries, mostly those where the majority is not white).
• Colonization: This word is used when talking about taking over other people’s lands in history. But it’s also used for exploring space (“colonizing Mars”). Using the same word suggests that the lands taken over in the past were empty or that the people living there weren’t civilized – like empty space waiting to be claimed.
• Indentured Labor: After slavery was officially ended, some systems forced people into harsh labor contracts. Calling this “indentured labor” can hide how brutal it really was. For many, it was very close to slavery, just with a different name (“White Washing of Slavery”).
• Territory: The USA calls places like Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa “territories.” People there live under US laws and pay taxes, but they don’t have full voting rights in the US government (they can’t vote for president or have full representation in Congress). Calling them “territories” hides the fact that this is much like old-style colonialism: people are ruled and taxed without having a full say. While Wikipedia calls Puerto Rico a territory, it functions like a colony.
• Berbers: This name is often used for the native peoples of North Africa. It likely comes from old words related to “barbarian,” used by outsiders. It carries a historical insult from colonial times within the name itself. [TODO: Verify exact etymology and context].
• Coolie: This is an offensive word used in the past for low-paid workers from Asia, especially South Asia and China. It carries a heavy weight of racism and colonial history. [TODO: Add brief historical context of usage].

America’s Idea of Race Spreads Worldwide

The way Americans think about race is based on their unique history. But because American movies, news, and culture are seen everywhere, these American ideas about race spread around the world.

• Black / White / People of Color (POC): These labels come straight from American history, shaped by slavery and segregation laws. For example, the old “one-drop rule” meant that if a person had any known African ancestor, they were considered ‘black.’ When these American labels spread worldwide through media, they get applied to societies with very different histories. People might group themselves differently based on their own culture, religion, nationality, or language. Using American racial labels can create new problems, hide the real local situation, or force local issues into an American box that doesn’t fit. It often oversimplifies things.
  • Think about this: In America, if someone with Indian or Chinese background has a child with a Black person, that child is often just called ‘Black.’ This ignores half their background, partly because of the old ‘one-drop’ idea.
  • The way Americans define ‘race’ doesn’t make much sense outside of American history, but these ideas now cause divisions in many places.
• The “Wrong Indians” Problem: Imagine European explorers sailing west, trying to reach India (the Indies). They land in the Americas instead. They meet the people living there, people ‘X’. Mistakenly thinking they reached the Indies, they call people ‘X’ “Indians.” Later, the continent gets named after another explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. So, the native people end up with a name based on a geographical mistake (“Indians”), connecting them to a place halfway across the world, all because of the colonizers’ error. This name sticks, imposed by the newcomers.

If we aren’t careful, we might use words that divide people or spread American or British ideas about race without even thinking about it.