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métisse

English translation: mixed


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14:18 Feb 23, 2011
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
French term or phrase: métisse
One of those many "real-life" questions that come up in teaching English to adults in France. This was asked by a woman of obviously mixed parentage (one of the parents being black) and proud to be so. What would one proudly claim to be in English?
Half or mixed blood sounds very Harry Potter, metis (as suggested by GDT) obscure, my mixed parentage above (or mixed-race) poorly suited to everyday speech, creole mainly associated with the New World...

Thanks for your help!
sueaberwoman
Local time: 21:01
English translation:mixed
Explanation:
The current trend in the UK is to move away from the term 'mixed-race'. The 2011 Census will include a 'mixed' category as opposed to the 'mixed-race' category used in the previous census in 2001.
The terms 'mixed parentage' and 'dual heritage' are also used in the UK.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2011-02-23 15:33:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'mixed', 'mixed parentage' and 'dual heritage' are currently considered to be politically correct terms in the UK.
Some people will refer to themselves as 'mixed race' in common speech while others will consider it to be inherently racist.
'Bi-racial' is a term more often found in the US, less common in the UK.
The issue can be sensitive and it is probably best left up to the student in question to decide which term suits her best!

http://www.intermix.org.uk/features/glossary.asp
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/rsw/current/cscs...
Selected response from:

Sabrine P
United Kingdom
Grading comment
My computer has gone screwy, so I will try again to attribute the points! Thanks to all for bringing me up to date on this sensitive question. Thanks especially to Sabrine for the helpful links, the variety of options and the very sensible suggestion to have my student make her own choice.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7mixed race
Gilla Evans
4 +1mixedSabrine P
4mulattorkillings
Summary of reference entries provided
metis
Lisa Miles

Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


0 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
mixed race


Explanation:
That's how friends of mine refer to themselves in the UK.

Gilla Evans
Local time: 20:01
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: Yes, see my discussion post
8 mins
  -> thanks, Helen
agree  sktrans
10 mins
  -> thanks, sktrans
agree  Lisa Miles: yes, definitely not half breed, goodness!
12 mins
  -> thanks, Lisa, I quite agree!
agree  Jeux de Mots
13 mins
  -> thanks J de M
agree  Philippa
20 mins
  -> thanks, Philippa
agree  Jocelyne S: Yes, 'biracial' is an alternative commonly used in N. America.
22 mins
  -> thanks, Jocelyne
agree  Tony M
30 mins
  -> thanks, Tony
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
mixed


Explanation:
The current trend in the UK is to move away from the term 'mixed-race'. The 2011 Census will include a 'mixed' category as opposed to the 'mixed-race' category used in the previous census in 2001.
The terms 'mixed parentage' and 'dual heritage' are also used in the UK.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2011-02-23 15:33:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'mixed', 'mixed parentage' and 'dual heritage' are currently considered to be politically correct terms in the UK.
Some people will refer to themselves as 'mixed race' in common speech while others will consider it to be inherently racist.
'Bi-racial' is a term more often found in the US, less common in the UK.
The issue can be sensitive and it is probably best left up to the student in question to decide which term suits her best!

http://www.intermix.org.uk/features/glossary.asp
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/rsw/current/cscs...


Sabrine P
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
Grading comment
My computer has gone screwy, so I will try again to attribute the points! Thanks to all for bringing me up to date on this sensitive question. Thanks especially to Sabrine for the helpful links, the variety of options and the very sensible suggestion to have my student make her own choice.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Sabrina, but I don't see how would my student would use that in a sentence. "I'm mixed" sounds rather odd to me!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: With dual heritage, though 'mixed' and'dual parentage' don't make much sense, since we are all that!
11 mins
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
mulatto


Explanation:
Use at your own risk. Has the advantage of not explicitly using the word 'race'. And it's the same *kind* of word in English as métisse is in French.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulatto

rkillings
United States
Local time: 12:01
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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Reference comments


12 mins peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: metis

Reference information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Métis

In canada Metis definitely defines mixed raced caucasian/inuit.

Example sentence(s):
  • A Métis is a person born to parents who belong to different groups defined by visible physical differences, regarded as racial, or the descendant of such persons.
Lisa Miles
Canada
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  ddegraeve
1 day18 hrs
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