Plain ethnic labels have derogatory higher-key counterparts that signal rejection

Evidence

In the ethnic sphere even plain labels such as … Negro, Italian, Jew, Catholic, Irish-American, French-Canadian may have emotional tone … But they all have their higher key equivalents: nigger, wop, kike, papist, harp, cannuck. When these labels are employed we can be almost certain that the speaker intends not only to characterize the person’s membership but also to disparage and reject him” (p. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1258

Categorization

• DEFINE: Illustrates the ethnophaulism ladder concept: neutral labels vs. their derogatory higher-key equivalents.