Murzyn: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Cafe 'Murzynek' in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|Cafe 'Murzynek' in Warsaw]] |
[[File:Cafe 'Murzynek' in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|Cafe 'Murzynek' in Warsaw]] |
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A saying sometimes used in Poland, ''murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść'', is actually a quote from the 1783 play [[Fiesco (play)|Fiesco]] by German writer [[Friedrich Schiller]] (translated from the German as "The Moor has done his duty, the Moor can go" |
A saying sometimes used in Poland, ''murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść'', is actually a quote from the 1783 play [[Fiesco (play)|Fiesco]] by German writer [[Friedrich Schiller]] (translated from the German as "The Moor has done his duty, the Moor can go".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dict.cc/english-german/The+Moor+has+done+his+duty+the+Moor+can+go.html |publisher=dict.cc |language=Englisch |title=The Moor has don his duty, the Moor can go}}</ref>) |
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The meaning of this phrase in Polish language is: "once you've served your purpose, you're no longer needed".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://megaslownik.pl/slownik/polsko_angielski/104272,murzyn+zrobi%C5%82+swoje,+murzyn+mo%C5%BCe+odej%C5%9B%C4%87 |title="Murzyn zrobił swoje, Murzyn może odejść - definition in Megasłownik - the online dictionary}}</ref> |
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This saying, when used by Poles, often ironically refers to themselves or other Polish people, who consider themselves the "modern day slaves" working very hard for little amount of money, either in Poland, or in other countries, mostly [[The United Kingdom|the UK]], [[the Netherlands]], [[Germany]], or [[Spain]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dict.cc/english-german/The+Moor+has+done+his+duty+the+Moor+can+go.html |publisher=dict.cc |language=Englisch |title=The Moor has don his duty, the Moor can go}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-25048307 |title=Modern day slavery in the UK}}</ref> |
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The English word "[[ghostwriter]]" can be translated informally in Polish as ''literacki murzyn'' - a "literary ''murzyn''".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvn24.pl/1,1642150,druk.html |title=Jak Colin wyłowił Alicję |publisher= Tvn24.pl | language=pl }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wydawnictwoliterackie.pl/ksiazka.php?ID=1922&PHPSESSID=08db71f15e7631f50198b023908b59b6 |title=PANDORA W KONGU |publisher= wydawnictwoliterackie.pl | language=pl}}</ref> |
The English word "[[ghostwriter]]" can be translated informally in Polish as ''literacki murzyn'' - a "literary ''murzyn''".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvn24.pl/1,1642150,druk.html |title=Jak Colin wyłowił Alicję |publisher= Tvn24.pl | language=pl }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wydawnictwoliterackie.pl/ksiazka.php?ID=1922&PHPSESSID=08db71f15e7631f50198b023908b59b6 |title=PANDORA W KONGU |publisher= wydawnictwoliterackie.pl | language=pl}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 02:43, 2 April 2014
Murzyn (Polish pronunciation: [muʐɨn]) is a Polish word for a black person. It is seen by some as a neutral word, [1] while other contemporary critics claim that it has pejorative connotations.[2] The word "previously considered neutral, is now all but banned in newspapers".[3]
Etymology, meaning, and usage
The word 'Murzyn' is derived from the same root as the English word 'moor'.[1]
According to the Dictionary of the Polish Language, 'murzyn' means somebody with black skin. Informally, it can also mean:
- Somebody anonymously doing work for somebody else;
- Somebody with a dark brown tan;
- A hard working person forced to do hard labour.[4]
Murzyn (feminine form: murzynka, diminutive: murzynek) can be translated into English as "black man" or "Negro". The normal nominative plural is murzyni (using the virile). The usage of non-virile plural for virile nouns (e.g., murzyny) is pejorative.[5] [6] In the opinion of Dr Marek Łaziński, it has also been associated with Shakespeare's 'noble' Othello, usually called a "moor" in English.[7] According to Łaziński the word murzyn in Polish is sometimes perceived as offensive, though many Poles would defend its use. In comparison, a direct translation of the English word "black", "czarny", does not seem better to him since it often carries negative connotations in Polish, though he feels it may eventually replace murzyn due to the influence of foreign languages on Polish. Łaziński, writing in the language advice column of the Polish dictionary, suggests that in cases where an individual may perceive murzyn to be offensive, geographic or national designations should be used.[8] According to Marcin Miłkowski, writing in 2012, the word "previously considered neutral, is now all but banned in newspapers".[3]
According to Patrycja Pirog, the word "'murzyn', which in the opinion of many Poles, including academics, is not offensive, is seen by black people as discriminatory and derogatory."[2] For Antonina Kloskowska, meanwhile, writing in "Race", ethnicity and nation: international perspectives on social conflict, the word murzyn "does not carry pejorative connotations. In contrast, the favoured term in the West, "black", which translates into Polish as "Czarny", is seen as offensive".[1]
Poland's first black Member of Parliament, John Godson, has said that the word is not offensive and that he is proud to be called a murzyn.[9] Mamadou Diouf, a black Polish musician and representative of the Committee for the African Community (Komitet Społeczności Afrykańskiej), has criticised Godson for his use of the word.[10]
Another black Polish MP, Killion Munyama, used the phrase sto lat za Murzynami ("100 years behind the Murzyns") while speaking to Godson about the status of LGBT issues in Poland, characterising it as behind the times.[11]
In language
A saying sometimes used in Poland, murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść, is actually a quote from the 1783 play Fiesco by German writer Friedrich Schiller (translated from the German as "The Moor has done his duty, the Moor can go".[12])
The English word "ghostwriter" can be translated informally in Polish as literacki murzyn - a "literary murzyn".[13][14]
Murzynek in informal Polish can also mean a popular type of chocolate cake, or a portion of strong coffee.[15] A murzyn polski ("Polish murzyn") is a variety of black-billed pigeon.[16]
Murzynka, apart from meaning "black-skinned woman", is also a type of strawberry with small, dark red fruit.[17]
In Polish culture
A famous children's poem "Murzynek Bambo" has been recently criticized for imprinting a stereotypical image of an African child.[18]Others argue that the poem should be seen in the context of its time, and that commentators should not go overboard in analysing it.[19] A journalist Adam Kowalczyk says that he "did not become a racist" because of reading the poem.[20]
Pod Murzynami ("Under the murzyns") is also a not uncommon name for chemist's shops or tenement buildings in Poland. Often an image of a black person accompanies the name.[21]
Polish General Władysław Franciszek Jabłonowski (1769–1802) was nicknamed "Murzynek".[22]
References
- ^ a b c Antonina Kłoskowska (1 July 1996). "Nation, race and ethnicity in Poland". In Peter Ratcliffe (ed.). "Race", ethnicity and nation: international perspectives on social conflict. Psychology Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-1-85728-661-8. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka, czyli jak polska kultura stworzyła swojego Murzyna". historiasztuki.uni.wroc.pl. "Murzyn", który zdaniem wielu Polaków, w tym także naukowców, nie jest obraźliwy, uznawany jest przez osoby czarnoskóre za dyskryminujący i uwłaczający.
- ^ a b Marcin Miłkowski (2012). "The Polish language in the digital age". p. 47.
{{cite web}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ "Murzyn" (in Polish). Sjp.pl.
- ^ Edited by Margaret H. Mills (1999). Slavic gender linguistics. p. 210. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ [1]
- ^ "Czy Obama jest Murzynem?". Juraszek.net.
- ^ "Lista odpowiedzi" (in Polish). poradnia.pwn.pl.
- ^ "Czy Murzynek Bambo to rasistowski wierszyk?" (in Polish). Tvp.pl.
- ^ "Murzyn to niewolnik. Szkoda, że poseł tego nie łapie" (in Polish). Tvn24.pl. Retrieved 2011-11-30. Diouf: "Myślę, że pan poseł nie zna pochodzenia słowa, o którym mowa" - "I think, that the MP doesn't know the etymology of the word".
- ^ "Munyama do Godsona: "Jesteśmy sto lat za Murzynami". "Newsweek" o kulisach dyskusji PO" (in Polish). gazeta.pl. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "The Moor has don his duty, the Moor can go" (in Englisch). dict.cc.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ "Jak Colin wyłowił Alicję" (in Polish). Tvn24.pl.
- ^ "PANDORA W KONGU" (in Polish). wydawnictwoliterackie.pl.
- ^ Murzynek, PWN
- ^ Murzyn polski, PWN
- ^ "Murzyna". sjp.pwn.pl.
- ^ "Czy "Murzynek Bambo" obraża Afrykanów?"
- ^ Murzynek Bambo dla licealistów?, Colemi.pl (in Polish)
- ^ Huckleberry Finn a Murzynek Bambo, Debata.olsztyn.pl (in Polish)
- ^ "Murzynek Bambo w Afryce mieszka, czyli jak polska kultura stworzyła swojego Murzyna" (in Polish). historiasztuki.uni.wroc.pl.
- ^ "Jabłonowski Władysław Franciszek" (in Polish). encyklopedia.pwn.pl.
External links
