Asian The term Asian can refer to something or someone from Asia. Its precise use varies depending on who is using it. In the United Kingdom and Anglophone Africa, the term Asian usually refers to people whose ethnic heritage is from the Indian subcontinent. Since approximately 1990 in the United States and Australasia, "Asian" has been considered a more politically correct term for "Oriental", which previously referred to people from China, Japan, and Korea; the older term is still in use in Britain. In the U.S., the term "Asian" is now used to also describe people from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Tibet, the Philippines, and other nations. It is sometimes also used more formally to refer to people from the entire Asian continent, including Indians and Southeast Asians. To avoid the confusion that sometimes occurs, the term "East Asian" is sometimes used to distinguish people from China, Japan, and Korea from other peoples such as Indians who are also technically considered Asian. It should be noted that "East Asian" is a relatively formal term and is used only when it is necessary to make a distinction between them and other Asian peoples. The term "South Asian" is used very formally and politely to refer to people from India. These people are also sometimes formally referred to as "Asian Indians". The term "West Asian" is used in very rare occasions to refer to people from Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern nations. The term "West Asian" is often considered overly formal and may be considered by some to be overly politically correct. Although some Russians hail from the Asian continent, most are genetically closer to Europeans and therefore not referred to as "Asian". Despite the fact that they reside on the same land mass, Asia and Europe have traditionally been considered two different continents by Europeans. This may perhaps be due to cultural differences between the peoples of Asia and Europe. Earth science, with a more precise definition of continent, more frequently considers Eurasia to be a single continent encompassing both Asia and Europe. Arabs, Persians, Ottomans, Indians, East Asians, Indo-Chinese and many other ethnic and cultural groups are often referred in one category as Asian and this can cause considerable confusion. Some believe that the idea that "Asians" form a coherent cultural group is outmoded and therefore the term should be replaced by use of separate term for each Asian cultural or geographical group. In modern times, "Asian" can be written in short form as "AZN". External links Essay by Alan Hu on "Asian" vs. "Oriental" Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian