Simplest pronunciation differences can mark out groups for mass lethal identification

Evidence

Shibboleth is a word of Hebrew origin found in the biblical book of Judges (12:1- 6). It refers to the battle between the tribe of Ephraim and the Gileadites, which ended with the defeat of the former. When the surviving Ephraimites tried to cross Jordan, they found Gilead soldiers on the other side, who subjected them to a single test: to pronounce the word shibboleth. The challenge was no more than a method of quick identification of opponents. Since the Ephraimites lacked a pronunciation for the “sh” sound, they were quickly identified by their opponents. The text says 42,000 were killed at that time. It was unacceptable and dangerous not to know the tribe-identifying code. — James D. Kirylo (ed.), Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1372

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to surveillance and algorithmic sorting discussions elsewhere in the reader’s library — phonetic profiling as an early form of biometric identification. — connects to: Oppression of racialized others primarily serves the wealthy, not ordinary white people — James D. Kirylo (ed.), Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed:…, 1410; Identification with extreme groups may be unstable and needs-driven — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 741; Simpler ethnic slurs predict immigrant segregation and hazardous-work assignments
• CANDY: The shibboleth test killing 42,000 over a missing sh sound is a vivid, self-contained anecdote for conversation.

Broader Connections

• Simpler ethnic slurs predict immigrant segregation and hazardous-work assignments #exemplifies (0.78)
• Identification with extreme groups may be unstable and needs-driven #corroborates (0.75) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 741