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1f51203e2e22820d21e841bbbfc798b66eb23c59 | barbaric.md | something which is obscenely cruel; primitive; unsophisticated ## Issues Barbarian originates from the Greek word _bárbaros_ meaning "babbler", to denote the "unintelligible sounds" (_"bar bar bar"_) made by foreign speakers. Similar words exist in many other languages, for the identical purpose labeling a "strange"/"foreign" person/culture. In modern day usage, you can notice this rhetoric being employed almost always for the purpose of demonizing "foreign" (more often than not from the global south) cultures - cultures that need to be civilized; cultures that need to be colonized to rescue them from themselves. A perfect lingual weapon for warmongers and racists alike. Equally repulsive sibling of "savage". ## Impact When you use words, that are in vogue primarily inside circles of bigots, with racist etymologies, it's a wilful act of violence, ignorance and an indication to the vilified and minoritised communities that their history of wounds and abuses are inconsequential to our words. ## Usage Tip Avoid words that have obscene etymologies. There is almost always a better alternative: an inclusive and a less hurtful one. | <p>something which is obscenely cruel; primitive; unsophisticated</p> <h2>Issues</h2> <p>Barbarian originates from the Greek word <em>bárbaros</em> meaning "babbler", to denote the "unintelligible sounds" (<em>"bar bar bar"</em>) made by foreign speakers. Similar words exist in many other languages, for the identical purpose labeling a "strange"/"foreign" person/culture.</p> <p>In modern day usage, you can notice this rhetoric being employed almost always for the purpose of demonizing "foreign" (more often than not from the global south) cultures - cultures that need to be civilized; cultures that need to be colonized to rescue them from themselves. A perfect lingual weapon for warmongers and racists alike. Equally repulsive sibling of "savage".</p> <h2>Impact</h2> <p>When you use words, that are in vogue primarily inside circles of bigots, with racist etymologies, it's a wilful act of violence, ignorance and an indication to the vilified and minoritised communities that their history of wounds and abuses are inconsequential to our words.</p> <h2>Usage Tip</h2> <p>Avoid words that have obscene etymologies. There is almost always a better alternative: an inclusive and a less hurtful one.</p> | Barbaric | barbaric | 1 | {"text": "Neo-Colonial/Racist slur", "level": "avoid"} | adjective | [{"text": "is the word barbarian a slur?", "href": "https://seetobehumanityearth.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/is-the-term-barbarian-a-slur/"}, {"text": "Barbarian wiki", "href": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarian"}] | ["cruel", "vicious", "obscene", "feral"] |