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.

Getting a Chinese, going for an Italian, having Thai...

All completely normal and common. The word 'meal' is implied to come after the nationality but not said because it's obvious from context.

YABU

I say get a curry.

Most curry restaurants/ takeaways round here are managed and cheffed by people from Pakistan afaik.

However. I would say get a Chinese, go for an Italian meal etc.

No I don't think it's offensive? For the people who make money from providing Chinese/ Italian/Spanish food etc it's a shorthand to sell what they are providing.

Not seeing it OP...

lesser ethnic cuisine seriously? Indian food is renowned for being delicious but also hard to recreate at home. Germany is famous for sausages where as India is famous for spices and the various blends that can be created.

Im baffled ...

Ive heard these terms my entire life ... going for an Indian... an Italian.. a Chinese... 🥰

I can't keep up with daily Offences .. 👀

If someone isn't happy with a phrase or wording (a part from chest feeding - they are BREASTS) then I won t say it. But seeing EVERYONE SAYS IT AND NO ONE SAYS NOT TOO, apart from that one random on mumsnet, society will just keep using the English they've used for decades, until, I guess, they get cancelled out of using it.

What do you mean by 'stereotypical idea of an Indian restaurant'?

Where I live there are loads of different types of Indian restaurants. Some small, some large banqueting places that specialise in hosting Asian weddings, some trendier ones with a cocktail bar, some that are vegetarian only, some that do more 'homestyle dishes'

Mmm full English.

Scottish is better as you get haggis. Haggis is lush with scrambled eggs.

In case anyone is interested

@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.

Well plenty of people have told you otherwise so...

And no, 'a french' isn't often said, if at all as there don't seem to be that many french restaurants around, certainly not in my area.

I say

An Italian
A Mexican
A Chinese

And an Indian

Probably others too

Do you fancy Italian? Yeah, let's go to the Italian.

Maybe British people just can't be bothered to speak in full sentences.

I should add, in countries like Japan, they say similar "let's get Italian (cuisine)" etc. Get a life.

You think most people in Britain have a stereotypical idea of Chinese/Indian food.
Now who’s showing their prejudice? How are you possibly qualified to comment on most people in Britain? Are you a food writer? Even then it’s another stretch!
It’s not an expression I use or particularly like but it is not racist.
Also I assume you have never seen the Goodness Gracious Me sketch “going for an English”. All in good fun.

i really love when the language majors come on mn and explain some of these questions and the history behind certain terms and expressions.
i hope someone pops on this thread and helps out.

@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.

Jesus fucking Christ I’ve heard it all now.

@bitheby

Do you fancy Italian? Yeah, let's go to the Italian.

Maybe British people just can't be bothered to speak in full sentences.

Not just british. Where I am from, we don't say the "meal" usually too, but we use country name so not "Getting some Indian/italian/french tonight" but "getting some India/italy/french tonight". Which is actually funny come to think of it

Anyone else reminded of the Goodness Gracious Me sketch about going for an English?! And everyone daring each other to have the blandest thing on the menu?

*france not french

Gosh OP, hope your shoulders aren't sore. From virtue-signalling so hard...

@Haffiana

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?

Do you understand how quotation marks work, at all?

Seriously, let it go. I’m not trying to trick anyone, I’m just exploring a language issue. Why the need to paint me in a corner as a racist?

I live at the intersection of many cultures - my birth country’s, my husband’s, the country where we live (U.K.), the country where we used to live (China). It’s FINE to ask questions about cultures. Shooting people down as “woke” does everyone a disservice.

@saraclara

Anyone else reminded of the Goodness Gracious Me sketch about going for an English?! And everyone daring each other to have the blandest thing on the menu?

Yes that was brilliant. I was actually thinking of that!

This is a you problem .

Sounds like a very american view ... trying to find something to be offended by !

'Lesser' cuisine? Are you serious?

You're doing a lot of back pedalling, OP. First your OP is about racism then you claim you're only interested in linguistics. Then you refer to Chinese and Indian being lesser cuisines, but later say you don't think they're lesser.

Why not just say, "okay, looks like I was wrong"?

It's always been said, for as long as I can remember.
An indian.
A Chinese.
A Mexican.
An Italian.

We have a Chinese sometimes. An Indian and an Italian.

People don't mean they are going to eat an Indian. They are shortening "going to eat an Indian meal".

Think you're definitely overthinking this one!