CordwainerFish
Emperor Mongoose
And, the 2300 CE 'verse being a cosmic horror setting in basic duty uniform, may actually have existed (though there is no way they could have been humans)...
2300 AD the Kaefer
- Thread starter SuperPheemy
- Start date
As an American who was not up on the South African language, I had never heard the word Kaffir until I saw Lethal Weapon 2, and the antagonists were calling Riggs a kaffir lover (in the scene where he shoots the fish tank). When 2300AD first came out and they had the Kafer as the primary enemy, I didn't know it meant beetle in German either. If I type the word into Google translate thats what it comes out to.
Language is a funny thing, and sometimes words are created/translated in order to bring hate and slurs from one language to another. And other times there is no intent on the creator (and oftentimes ignorance) to make that so. But if one looks hard enough one can (usually) find that true for all kinds of words.
Take the word 'fag'. It's got an interesting historical lexicology behind it. I first learned of it as a derogatory word toward gay people. Then in English class we were reading olde English and fag(got) came up - it meant a bundle of twigs or sticks tied together. Watching old (UK) English movies I heard it as a reference to cigarettes. When I got more gay friends I heard some of them happily use it to self-identify. So for this word I always look towards the speakers intent in order to divine what they mean by it. I think that's the point of most spoken or written words - what is the intent behind the speaker/writer using it. If the intent in any form is derogatory or hateful, then it's a hateful word/translation. If not then it isn't. Does that make it tone-deaf and people should stop using it? Eh, I'm not really into word or thought policing others so I would say no. But I'm also the type to not go 'round intentionally trying to stir up trouble by pleading ignorance to certain words, so once I'm aware of something like that I may stop using it. Then again I may not. But that's really my business and not others.
We are all free to make our own assumptions and our own derivations of these things. If you feel offended, then that's your truth. It may not be everyone else's truth, but it's yours and that's enough. It's only when we come together and speak of these things with others that we may find out truths do not match other's truths. And that is neither a good or bad thing - it simply is.
lategamer
Cosmic Mongoose
The tragic thing is that Käfer is further from the slur than Kaefer. (Wikipedia: The term has its etymological roots in the Arabic word kāfir (كافر), usually translated as "disbeliever" or "non-believer".)
I'll keep Käfer as used by the euro-centric arms. As my interest is now in the "Manchurian" Arm, I'm going to take some liberties and expand that arm as my centre of interest.
“In light of the escalating reports emerging from the French frontier, the Sino-Pacific Federation is dispatching a dedicated scientific delegation to the region. Their mandate is clear: to observe, analyse, and, where possible, initiate non-intrusive study of the 远智族 - the Distant Guests. We believe that understanding must precede judgement, and knowledge must guide policy. Until our specialists return with verified data, we will not endorse the more alarming foreign characterisations circulating in the press. The universe is vast, and all civilisations, including our own, are newcomers to it. Our duty is to meet the unfamiliar with discipline, humility, and a commitment to peaceful inquiry.”
- Director-General Lin Qianxiu
林倩秀
Ministry of Interstellar Research and Development
中太联邦 · Sino-Pacific Federation
“Well now, I heard that speech outta those Manchus, talkin’ real pretty ’bout sendin’ some lab coats to go ‘study’ the "Distant Guests". Let me tell ya, that right there is fixin’ to be the biggest fool’s errand this side of Amarillo. Them ain’t ‘guests,’ partner, them’s Käfers. And a Käfer don’t sit still while you poke at it with a clipboard. The French learned that the hard way, and even they ain’t dumb enough to send a bunch of academics into the lion’s den wearin’ sandals and good intentions. The Manchus think they’re gonna stroll up and shake hands with somethin’ that’ll rip your guts out soon as look at you. I tell ya straight: they’ve bitten off more than they can chew, and they’ll be hollerin’ for help faster’n a calf stuck in barbed wire. But hey, if they wanna go courtin’ disaster, let ’em. Just don’t expect us to go bailin’ ’em out when those Kaefers decide the buffet’s open.”
— Congressman Wade “Dusty” Kincaid
9th Texas District
Former Ranger, Veterans’ Committee Spokesman
Interview with FrontierTalk NewsNet, 2308.
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paltrysum
Emperor Mongoose
It's always rankled me a bit, and we've talked about it at the office.
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
And humans are very good at it...
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
While the horror element of the kafer is certainly there for "civilian" Travellers, for fully armed and armoured troops it is less so. I always considered the potential of the provolutionists to go the way of cosmic horror way more disturbing - and a much better plot arc.
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
Ignore your politics and leave it is as kafer. Kaefer is phonetically most certainly a very derogatory arabic word right up there with the n word that must not be spoken...
Up thread the sanitised meaning is given but the realty is it means a lot more in a derogatory sense than unbeliever. Go do some research on what an islamist really means when they call you a kafir - and it certainly isn't a yoghurt like drink.
MasterGwydion
Emperor Mongoose
Sad, but true.
