OT: A Little Language Problem. Solved?

[Kibitzer]

The UConn Huskies (women) have a few players (present or on the way) whose parents are of different races or ethnicity. I find this interesting but I have been uncertain how to describe either the parents or their offspring. Strictly a language/usage issue.

In an article online (AOL) today, reference is made to "an interracial couple with biracial children." It seemed to be a clear distinction between inter- and bi- and makes good sense.

Nothing earth-shaking in this, but interesting to us would-be lexicographers during the wcbb off-season and WNBA pre-season. (Now those of you with keen eyes and excessive time on your hands can quibble with this -- or my insertion of hyphens before season in the preceding sentence.)

 

[Patrick Lilly]

from a grammatical angle, I understand your question. what confuses me is why do we even mention or care if their parents are of different races?

 

[Vowelguy]

from a grammatical angle, I understand your question. what confuses me is why do we even mention or care if their parents are of different races?

Why do we mention what town folks are from? Why do we mention that Geno is Italian?
Because they're points of fact, and heritage is important for many. Saniya being Black Chinese makes her somewhat unique and is an interesting factoid from her bio to me. I'd be curious to hear how that has shaped her.

 

[Kibitzer]

from a grammatical angle, I understand your question. what confuses me is why do we even mention or care if their parents are of different races?

I find it unusual that such a high number of players on the UConn roster fit this category, and especially so with KML and Saniya. Hey, I treat it as a language/usage issue, not even remotely a negative social comment. Since it is both "OT" and off-season, it is as worthy of discussion as that recent red-hot rumor that Wilson was headed for UNC.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

from a grammatical angle, I understand your question. what confuses me is why do we even mention or care if their parents are of different races?

Technically, we probably don't care in some ways. OTH, as Kib finds an interesting aspect, the one thing that I have always found interesting is how someone who is biracial or even just 2 strongly different ethnic backgrounds may reflect the division. For example, I had a co-worker one time whose father was Caucasian (American) and whose mother was Asian (I'm not sure from what country originally). What was very interesting was that she was very Americanized in every way and had no accent, but when she counted, she counted in her mother's language, because that was where she first learned to count. Fascinating, I thought.

 

[wire chief]

I am 50% Italian, 25% Irish & German each. I am triethnic? You?

 

[Giovanni]

I am 50% Italian, 25% Irish & German each. I am triethnic? You?

I'm Trilingual -- speak Italian, English and Profanity . . . but not necessarily in that order!

 

[iri10]

I find it unusual that such a high number of players on the UConn roster fit this category, and especially so with KML and Saniya. Hey, I treat it as a language/usage issue, not even remotely a negative social comment. Since it is both "OT" and off-season, it is as worthy of discussion as that recent red-hot rumor that Wilson was headed for UNC.

I find it somewhat interesting as well, in a trivia way. Do you know if I have the correct tally here?

Bria (outgoing)

Kiah
Saniya
Kaleena

Gabby (incoming)
Kia (incoming)

Not sure about Napheesa, but wouldn't be surprised if she was also.

 

[Samanthabrown3]

Yeah, I was surprised when they showed the parents on Senior Night and at the NCAA tournament. It never crossed my mind. But it strikes me, too, as an unusually high number. Wonder what the percentage is in the general population of the US. Maybe there aren't an unusual number of Huskies after all.

 

[Kibitzer]

Yeah, I was surprised when they showed the parents on Senior Night and at the NCAA tournament. It never crossed my mind. But it strikes me, too, as an unusually high number. Wonder what the percentage is in the general population of the US. Maybe there aren't an unusual number of Huskies after all.

A fellow on tv the other night (an NAACP official IIRC) stated that one in seven marriages currently being performed is interracial. I have no way of verifying this but I am certain that the frequency has certainly increased over the past, say, 50 years.

It is also not a stretch to think that the obvious acceptance of such marriages by UConn may have given UConn a recruiting edge in this field over communities that are historically less tolerant.

 

[DaddyChoc]

funny I was on Wikipedia last night reading about the "One-Drop" rule/law... interesting