Topic: [APPROVED] Tag alias: eskimo -> inuit

Posted under Tag Alias and Implication Suggestions

The bulk update request #10613 is active.

remove implication canadian_eskimo_dog (15) -> nordic_sled_dog (42498)
remove alias american_eskimo_dog (0) -> american_eskimo (31)
remove implication american_eskimo (31) -> spitz (58118)

Followup:

alias canadian_eskimo_dog -> canadian_inuit_dog
imply canadian_inuit_dog -> nordic_sled_dog
alias american_eskimo -> american_spitz
alias american_eskimo_dog -> american_spitz
imply american_spitz -> spitz

Some dog breeds that need to be renamed as well.

The Canadian Eskimo Dog is a dog that was bred by the Inuit people in northern Canada, and Canadian Inuit Dog is a common alternate name.

The American Eskimo Dog however, is a German breed that was renamed to dodge anti-German sentiment after WW2, as far as I can tell the best alternate name is the American Spitz.

EDIT: The bulk update request #10613 (forum #441684) has been approved by @spe.

Updated by auto moderator

I believe the term Eskimo is also used for Yupik peoples, which are related to but distinct from the Inuit peoples. Using Eskimo is problematic, but Inuit doesn't describe all Indigenous peoples of the Arctic.

slyroon said:
The tag alias #75558 eskimo -> inuit has been approved.

Reason: The term "Eskimo" is becoming more and more outdated and often considered offensive.
Instead, Inuit should be used for Indigenous Arctic people, as that is a way more accepted term.

I've not heard anyone consider it to be offensive, just saying. First time I'm hearing that being considered offensive. But I also don't use Twitter or any other general social media, maybe I'm out of the loop.

mklxiv said:
I've not heard anyone consider it to be offensive, just saying. First time I'm hearing that being considered offensive. But I also don't use Twitter or any other general social media, maybe I'm out of the loop.

The reason it's considered offensive is because of its nature as an exonym imposed by people who hated them.

The literal definition doesn't seem like anything bad, it's believed to come from the French esquimaux meaning "those who net snowshoes", but the literal definition is not the point*.
Exonyms also aren't an inherently offensive concept; nobody will take offense to you saying Germany instead of Deutschland, China instead of Zhōngguó, or Japan instead of Nihon, for instance.
The point is the people who used the name "Eskimo" for them are specifically people who never had their best interests at heart. Like the French.

"Inuit" and "Yupik" are what they call themselves as a culture. They just mean "people" in their respective languages. Some will still call themselves "eskimoes", but that's a matter of individual preference, and many others are uncomfortable with doing the same.

(*You may have also heard the origin story of it allegedly meaning "eaters of raw meat", but that doesn't seem to be widely agreed on anymore?)

Updated

lendrimujina said:
The reason it's considered offensive is because of its nature as an exonym imposed by people who hated them. The literal definition is believed to be "those who net snowshoes" and comes from French, but the literal definition is not the point*. Neither are exonyms inherently offensive (nobody will take offense to not saying Deutschland, Zhonghuo, or Nihon, for instance). The point is the people who gave them that name are specifically ones who never had their best interests at heart.

"Inuit" and "Yupik" are what they call themselves. They just mean "people" in their respective languages.

(*You may have also heard the origin story of it allegedly meaning "eaters of raw meat", but that doesn't seem to be wodely agreed on?)

Ah, I see, thanks a bunch! That makes a lot more sense.

lendrimujina said:
Exonyms also aren't an inherently offensive concept; nobody will take offense to you saying Germany instead of Deutschland, China instead of Zhōngguó, or Japan instead of Nihon, for instance.

I'm not sure if "Japan" should be considered an exonym since it is just an (admittedly kinda bastardized) pronunciation of "Nippon".

The bulk update request #10650 is pending approval.

create alias canadian_eskimo_dog (15) -> canadian_inuit_dog (0)
create implication canadian_inuit_dog (0) -> nordic_sled_dog (42498)
create alias american_eskimo (31) -> american_spitz (0)
create alias american_eskimo_dog (0) -> american_spitz (0)
create implication american_spitz (0) -> spitz (58118)

Reason: Folowup