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.

A chippy.

I would say

An indian
An italian
A chinese

(I wouldnt say a french but ive never been for french food so thats probably more a reason than racism)

To me its an abbreviation of 'an indian meal' rather than eating the person... Surely thats the case for most people...?

@espee

I don’t think it does..to me the ‘a/an’ get of indicates you’re getting it at home unless you state you went out for it in the sentence. I know that isn’t a rule but it is implied in my head

So

‘We had an Indian last night’ - I would assume that you got a takeaway curry

‘We went out for an Indian last night’ - you went to an Indian restaurant last night

(I've also never had an Italian)

Fnar

Well I think this is a wind-up. Now you’ve called Indian a “lesser” cuisine, you’re the one who sounds like you are racist and offensive.

I think we need to examine how different food traditions arrived in the U.K., what establishments were founded in which locations at what price points and who these cuisine pioneers were. That illuminates quite a lot. I’m not sure picking a random British Indian for an opinion is very scientific.

I didn't say 'let an Indian person decide' I said Indian people decide. The point being that white people should be supporting other races' voices from the back seat, but not leading from the front by deciding themselves what is and isnt racist for other people.

Anyway thanks all for your answers, this was illuminating.

And of course I’ve got too much time on my hands - this is week 1,023,459 of lockdown.

@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.

You really need to get a hobby

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.

How dare you say that ethnic is lesser. That is massively offensive. Are you being deliberately provocative now?

The only reason you don't hear about going out for a French is because there aren't any French restaurants in most towns in the UK and certainly aren't any French takeaways.

I’ve ever heard anyone say they were going for ‘an Italian’

I ahve never hear anyone to not to say this when talking about going for an Italian👀 Gonna get a Lebanese/ a Chinese/ an Indian / a Mexican / a Polish tonight.

You ask how an Indian is not offensive OP, my question is: How is it offensive?

I hate the term fish supper too.

Although I do like a chippy tea.

@JaneNorman

I can’t tell if you’re joking.

Things we definitely say, as do many other people:

Shall we order a Chinese?
Do you fancy Indian tonight?
We haven’t had a Thai for ages
I love a Mexican.

The one thing I probably wouldn’t say is Italian. It would either be I fancy pasta or I fancy pizza.

Well yeah, good point. But what if you don't want a pizza but you want Italian cuisine?

Then you'd have to look on just eat and it'd ask you what type of food you were after, and then...
...GASP
... it'd say...ITALIAN

so. If you don't want pizza, but you want pasta-based good, prepared commercially. I guess it's called 'going for an Italian'?

YABU, where I’m from everyone says going for ‘an Indian’, ‘a Thai’, ‘a Mexican’ etc.

Op you asked for an explanation. The response has been unanimous. Yet we're wrong and you know better. Why bother asking?

For the record I disagree with your sentiment Re Brits having pre-conceived notions of specific foods. I think that is your own insecurity / prejudice shining through there.

I’m just interested in how the article (a/an) gets added. I think most people in Britain have a stereotypical idea of a Chinese/Indian restaurant, in a way that markedly differs from the stereotype of a French/Italian restaurant. And that’s where the article comes in, for many people.

Honetly people do not put that much thought into it it just common usage and commonly understood what it means whereas if some said "I'm getting a French" I would be asking a French what?, car? manicure?, dresser?

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.

How can you say people picking you up on your own judgemental nonsense is "a hopeless point" ?

This is FAR more likely to be read as offensive that your suggestion, if you want to compare.

We definitely say we’re ordering an Italian/Chinese/Indian takeaway. Definitely not offensive - surely it’s more a compliment that the food is so unique to that country and we enjoy is so much we’re ordering it. We go for a full English too but that’s very specific for a breakfast.

I'm Mexican-American and I just asked my husband if he "fancied a Mexican".
Well, he does because he married ME but I was talking in regards to dinner. He knew exactly what I meant. 🙄

@Honeybobbin

My husband is Chinese. 5 minutes before I opened this thread he asked if we were going to have a Chinese for dinner tomorrow (Because it's Chinese New Year, obviously!) Shall I tell him he's offending himself?

Kung Hei Fat Choy! I lived in Hong Kong for years. We’re also having Chinese food tomorrow.

Year of the Ox!

I do sometimes think it's odd that a massive country with different regional cuisines is condensed down to one word...but then these restaurants market themselves as say a Chinese takeaway rather than a Szechuan takeaway. Round us the 'Indian' restaurants that market themselves as such are actually mainly Pakistani. If they feel they have to market themselves as something they're not because it goes down better with white British customers then no that's not great...but on the other hand I've heard people say they are going out for an Italian, Thai, a Mexican, and yes a French (restaurant not takeaway if that makes a difference).

@babbaloushka

I think you referring to ethnic cuisines as "lesser" speaks volumes more than people saying they're having an Indian...

Yep. That's a really wierd thing to say about two of the great cuisines.

For the record, I say an Indian, a Chinese, a Nandos, a full English, a Vietnamese.

For no reason that I understand, I just say Thai. As in shall we have Thai.

A full Scottish, going for an Indian/Chinese/Italian/Thai, a full English. All perfectly normal abbreviations for meals where I'm from. I don't understand how it can possibly be considered offensive.