Mongoloid etymology

Etymology

The term "Mongoloid" is derived from the Mongolian word "Mongol," which means "brave" or "fierce." It was first used in the 18th century by German anthropologists to describe the physical characteristics of people from East Asia, Siberia, and Southeastern Asia.

Meaning

The term "Mongoloid" has been used historically to refer to a group of people who share certain physical characteristics, including:

• Straight, black hair
• Epicanthic folds (skin folds on the upper eyelid that partially cover the inner corner of the eye)
• Prominent cheekbones
• Broad, flat nose
• Relatively short stature

Origin

The term "Mongoloid" originated from the observation of physical similarities among people from East Asia, Siberia, and Southeast Asia. These similarities were thought to be a reflection of a common genetic ancestry.

However, it is important to note that the term "Mongoloid" is a contested and problematic term. It has been criticized for:

• Reinforcing stereotypes and discrimination against people of East Asian descent
• Oversimplifying the genetic diversity within East Asia
• Ignoring the cultural and linguistic diversity of the people it describes

As a result, many anthropologists and scholars now prefer to use more specific terms to describe the physical characteristics of people from different regions of the world, such as "East Asian" or "Southeast Asian."

Mongoloid relate terms

• Mongol

  Etymology The word Mongol is derived from the Mongolian word Mongghul which means