"Germanic" is an offensive term

**arkas** · 07-31-2018, 07:21 AM

I wouldn't say it's offensive, just a commonly incorrectly used term, could indicate that the term will have a different official meaning in the past. There's other examples of this like in India people sometimes use the terms Indo-Aryan and Dravidian to differentiate North and South Indians, it also is a linguistic divide as oppose to anything else.

**~~Bobby Martnen~~** · 07-31-2018, 07:40 AM

What word is offensive, hilarious, and begins with an "N"

**Gold-Shekel** · 07-31-2018, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby Martnen

What word is offensive, hilarious, and begins with an "N"

Naggers.

**~~Bosniensis~~** · 07-31-2018, 08:19 AM

I can imagine that "Germ, Germanic" meant a something negative IF Romans gave that name.

Teutons seems better.

**Autrigón** · 07-31-2018, 09:13 AM

Native Americans from Central and South America are called Spanish because they speak Spanish. So yeah, what a wonderful world.

**~~RandomGuy20~~** · 07-31-2018, 09:35 AM

I am proud to call myself part Germanic

**Peterski** · 07-31-2018, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Bosniensis

I can imagine that "Germ, Germanic" meant a something negative

Is there any etymological link between Germ and Germanic?:

germ
noun
1. a microorganism, especially one which causes disease.
synonyms: microbe, microorganism, bacillus, bacterium, virus; informal: bug

**~~Bosniensis~~** · 07-31-2018, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Peterski

Is there any etymological link between Germ and Germanic?:

germ
noun
1. a microorganism, especially one which causes disease.

I think that Romans regarded Germans as something "unclean, dirty" so it's possible. "Barbarian Germans" aka "Uncivilized Unclean"

Romans were very rude to Germans due their attempt to enter Europe, which is why Germans in the end destroyed Roman Civilization

**Dandelion** · 07-31-2018, 09:56 AM

It is known that it means neighbour and is a Celtic word in origin.
Roman Emperors adopting the name Germanicus made sure to name us in a neutral way before attribjting such cognomina.

**~~RandomGuy20~~** · 07-31-2018, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Peterski

Is there any etymological link between Germ and Germanic?:

germ
noun
1. a microorganism, especially one which causes disease.
synonyms: microbe, microorganism, bacillus, bacterium, virus; informal: bug

It is thought to mean 'spear man' since spears were considered the holy weapon of Woden. *gēr-manni cf. Middle Dutch ghere, Old High German Ger, Old Norse geirr which mean spear.
The bacterial meaning probably had nothing to do with it lol