Ethnic slurs range from benign to extremely derogatory across groups

Evidence

On the other hand, the array of ethnophaulisms used for an ethnic group can vary in valence, which indicates the negativity of the cognitive representation being used for the ethnic groups (Mullen, Rozell, & Johnson, 2000, 2001). The ethnophaulisms for some ethnic groups are relatively moderate in valence, indicating a relatively benign cognitive representation. For example, ethnophaulisms applied to Welsh immigrants in the US have tended to be relatively neutral in valence (such as “cousin jack” and “taffy”). Alternatively, the ethnophaulisms for other ethnic groups are extremely negative in valence, indicating a relatively derogatory cognitive representation. For example, ethnophaulisms applied to Greek immigrants in the US have tended to be extremely negative in valence (such as “greaseball” and “asshole-bandit”). … As suggested by Greenberg, Kirkland, and Pyszczynski (1988), ethnophaulisms “probably constitute the most direct and effective expression of prejudice in everyday discourse” (p. 75). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1282

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the ‘valence’ dimension of ethnophaulisms with Welsh vs. Greek examples.
• SHARE: The ‘cousin jack’ and ‘taffy’ as neutral Welsh slurs, and ‘greaseball’ for Greeks, is a nerdy tidbit for a linguist or sociolinguist.