How is the expression ‘an Indian’ not offensive?

[Yellownotblue]

As in, an Indian take away or delivery meal.

I find it quite odd to hear one specific type of cuisine referred to like this. Would you say “ we’re going for a French tonight” or “he invited me to his place for an Italian”? Somehow it seems dismissive and disrespectful.

For full disclosure, I’m not Indian but my husband is of Asian ancestry and our children have dual heritage. I’m British (first generation migrant). I was born and brought up in North America and can’t remember the expression ‘an Indian’ ever being used as short for Indian food before I moved to Britain.

Ha ha. Same reason North Americans often fail to distinguish between the Brits and the English (and rarely refer to the UK at all).

The irony is that many restaurants in the U.K. are Bengali/Bangladeshi

Where I live it's mostly Pakistani. I've even been to an "Indian" restaurant in Germany, run by Pakistanis.
As a PP says, that's how they choose to market themselves.
Also, I know of "Lebanese" restaurants run by Iraqis and Syrians...

All this thread is doing is making me yearn my little heart out for a decent Greek meal.

I think the OP has had a hard time here, as this is clearly a different linguistic approach to those she's encountered before. I've only just realised OP - I grew up in the Middle East and we didn't use the 'an Indian' phrasing there either. So it's definitely a British thing.

As an aside, an Iraqi friend came across Paddington Bear, read that he was from Deepest Darkest Peru, and was a bit at this casual shade being thrown at poor old Peru it had never occurred to me before that but I had to admit it was slightly odd now I thought of it!!

I'm hungry now.

Deepest darkest Peru refers to the mountains in Peru!!!!!

@BrilliantBetty

My Indian family just make a joke of this

'Shall we order an Indian?'
'Yes what should we order him to do' ..

'I'll pick up an Indian'
'Ok but I'm heavy!'

Etc etc. We get Indian takeaways quite a lot for special occasions. Not everything has to be negative.

@ContessaDiPulpo

I think the OP has had a hard time here, as this is clearly a different linguistic approach to those she's encountered before. I've only just realised OP - I grew up in the Middle East and we didn't use the 'an Indian' phrasing there either. So it's definitely a British thing.

As an aside, an Iraqi friend came across Paddington Bear, read that he was from Deepest Darkest Peru, and was a bit at this casual shade being thrown at poor old Peru it had never occurred to me before that but I had to admit it was slightly odd now I thought of it!!

Oh, it serves her right. Its a British based site, I'm sure the OP has come across British idioms before.

I had someone on an internet site before insist that you could not refer to someone by their nationality at all. ie you not call an Australian an Australian, or a Dane a Dane, etc. The internet is full of all sorts of strange ideas but some of them catch on like Chinese whispers and it is best that they are countered as some gullible people tend to be taken in.

@Vixyboo

Deepest darkest Peru refers to the mountains in Peru!!!!!

I'm sure it does (I read the books a long time ago). But you must admit the phrase might strike a non-native English speaker as a bit odd on first hearing (like many English phrases really).

As an aside, an Iraqi friend came across Paddington Bear, read that he was from Deepest Darkest Peru, and was a bit at this casual shade being thrown at poor old Peru it had never occurred to me before that but I had to admit it was slightly odd now I thought of it!!

They aren't referring to Peru in that way. If Paddington came from Lima the deepest darkest part wouldn't be there. It's the fact he's from a remote uninhabited area that earns the prefix. Like the deep dark woods in the gruffalo. It's not just a copse on the edge of town

Never in my life have I had a French takeaway. What would that even be?

@Yellownotblue

Maybe it’s a class or regional thing. I literally have never heard anyone say ‘going for an Italian’. It’s just “lesser” (ethnic) cuisines that are referred to that way.

I just posted out of curiosity. No need to get all agitated. I’ve read all the answers and taking it all on board. I’m interested in linguistics.

Yet here you are referring them to "lesser" (ethnic) cuisines. Liertally no-one refers to them that way because they are "leser" in anyway.

It is purely an abbreviation.

Which class do you consider uses the phraseology? Upper or lower? I am really interested because everyone I have ever met whatever their class and whatever region they are from would refer to going for or having an Indian.

@Vixyboo

Deepest darkest Peru refers to the mountains in Peru!!!!!

I think it probably refers to the jungle actually - the Amazon rainforest extends quite significantly into Peru.

Hmm...interesting. Never thought about it but now I realise we never say a/an. Just Indian or Indian food. No actual reason that I can say, just the way we say it.

Let's order some food. What shall we have? Indian?

I'm about to order Indian food. What would you like?

We're going to the Indian restaurant/Let's go eat at the Indian restaurant/Where shall we go - the Indian restaurant?

I've heard going for an Indian/Italian/ a Chinese many times though and understand what is meant. As I'm neither of those, can't say if it's offensive or not. Doesn't sound like it is to me but not my call.

Yeah, OP could have said 'I've just come across this phrase, which is different to the term I'm used to, are you able to explain?'. Rather than 'I think you're all being racially offensive because...'.

I'm sure it does (I read the books a long time ago). But you must admit the phrase might strike a non-native English speaker as a bit odd on first hearing (like many English phrases really).

As do sayings in other languages sound odd, unusual or funny to native English speakers That's not exclusive.

So many eyerolls. Fgs people need to get a grip.

When not saying "food of foreign origin" I may say Indian but of course that is just my abbreviation for the Indian sub-continent which includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan and also the Maldives.

Although as we tend to always go to the same restaurant I might just say "shall we go to (or get a take-away from) the 'Taste of India' ".

I hope that has cleared that up!

@BrilliantBetty

Never in my life have I had a French takeaway. What would that even be?

I've never had a French takeaway either but many restaurants are doing takeaway now that didn't before (what with being shut) I get sent the menu from a lovely French Bistro. A typical meal would be Roquefort souffle with pomegranate and chicory salad, Coq au Vin and Lavender Creme Brulee. If only they delivered to where we live...

@midnightstar66

I'm sure it does (I read the books a long time ago). But you must admit the phrase might strike a non-native English speaker as a bit odd on first hearing (like many English phrases really).

As do sayings in other languages sound odd, unusual or funny to native English speakers That's not exclusive.

Indeed. And I'm sure that when English speakers say' That's an... unusual phrase' in/about other languages that they don't get any almost-angry reprisals of 'THAT'S JUST HOW WE SPEAK FGS' at all

I’m sure every country has its own phrases for another country’s cuisine. Full English in Spain? I don’t find it remotely offensive. 🙄

@Yellownotblue

Maybe it’s a class or regional thing. I literally have never heard anyone say ‘going for an Italian’. It’s just “lesser” (ethnic) cuisines that are referred to that way.

I just posted out of curiosity. No need to get all agitated. I’ve read all the answers and taking it all on board. I’m interested in linguistics.

Indian food is my favourite so definitely not lesser to me! I would also say a Chinese or an Italian (there are no French take aways where I live and I've never gone to a specifically french restaurant other than in France so I've never used that term) Like others have said it's just short for An Indian take Away, or A Chinese Take Away, I don't get why that would be offensive in anyway?

@Yellownotblue

I’m specifically referring to abbreviating it to ‘an Indian’. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they were going for ‘an Italian’. Maybe I’m wrong or it’s a regional thing?

You are wrong.

ContessaDiPulpo

That's because OP didn't just write "that's and unusual phrase"

As lottiegarbanzo wrote......

Yeah, OP could have said 'I've just come across this phrase, which is different to the term I'm used to, are you able to explain? Rather than 'I think you're all being racially offensive because

I wouldn’t take it as someone was saying they are eating an Indian person that night

I don’t think anyone in my family (south Asian so to most Indian or from Pakistan) would run an hide in fear that they might be someone’s meal later that day