Ruckus in Richmond

Diversity is Difficult

    You may recall that back in my year-end rant I warned you about being careful about what you say and that there are many words which should not be used at all. You need to speak very carefully and carry a very big stick.

   Additional evidence supporting my prescience arrived last week in the form of a sign in Richmond which was advertising for a person who spoke Chinese. There are many Chinese in Richmond. A controversy ensued. Here is the sign; see if you are linguistically savvy enough to spot the problem.

  The problem is clear enough if you have been paying attention. A hint: it is not a philological issue over whether what is wanted is a speaker of Cantonese or Mandarin.

    When the error was called to the attention of the profusely apologetic owner he realized immediately that he should have advertised for someone who spoke Chinese (Mandarin, etc.) and not a Chinese person. Whether he was spared a visit to the Human Rights Tribunal, I am not sure. Whether it is okay to hire a Chinese person, I am not sure, but I suppose it is okay if they speak Chinese.

  This all happened in Richmond, B.C. not Richmond, VA. If you live in that Richmond, don’t advertise for an African-American Sales Person. Look instead for an Ebonics speaker.