anded compliment and, at worst, as code for “lacking leadership potential.” See ASIAN AMERICAN; FOREIGN-NESS; STEREOTYPES; YELLOW PERIL; YELLOW SKIN.
Famed for Genghis Khan and his martial empire of the 13th century. His military success was based in part on his army’s ferocity and its breed of warhorse that could survive on sparse grazing land in winter, allowing them to advance in all seasons. A bleak climate known for fossil discoveries, such as dinosaur eggs. Independent from China in 1921. Between China and Russia. About the size of Alaska. Population: 3.2 million (2012 estimate). Proportion of population younger than 15: about one-quarter. Capital: Ulaanbaatar. Languages: Khalkha Mongol (official, 90 percent) and others (1999 estimate). Ethnic groups: Mongol (mostly Khalka, 95 percent) and Kazakh (5 percent). Literacy: 98 percent. (Source: World Factbook.) See also ASIA, CENTRAL.
Extremely complex naming rules involving patronymics, matronymics and clan names. Beware second reference.
MOSQUE “AT” GROUND ZERO:
The quotations marks are necessary. Plans in 2010 for an Islamic community center in Lower Manhattan quickly became an ugly religious and ethnic battle. Conservatives saw the plan as an Arab affront to Americans killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and a memorial to terrorism (the attackers were Arab). It mattered little that the planned center wasn’t a mosque. It was intended to be a 15-story multi-use building with a small area for worship, akin to a chapel in a Catholic hospital. It was to be two blocks from the site of the attack, “ground zero.” Whatever the viewpoint, the building would not be on top of or “at” the World Trade Center site. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to building the center was cost: $100 million or more. See ISLAM; ISLAMIC; ISLAMIST; JIHAD; SEPTEMBER 11, 2001; SRI LANKA; SUICIDE BOMBING.
India’s largest city and commercial center, formerly known as Bombay. Although the rare journalism organization may continue to use “Bombay,” the name change is official in India. It doesn’t hurt, however, to gracefully remind readers that Mumbai is formerly Bombay when necessary. Other Indian cities have also formally switched to the names in their native languages, including Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. But it is understandable that some name changes may take years or decades to catch on, including Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore). In such cases, it is probably better to use the Western name, but when relevant, use the correct name of buildings or names (such as the Bengaluru International Airport). See BOMBAY; INDIA.
A follower of Islam. Not all Muslims are Arabs; not all Arabs are Muslim. See INDONESIA; ISLAM; ISLAMIC; ISLAMIST; JIHAD; MOSQUE “AT” GROUND ZERO; SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
Pronounced MEE-YAHN-mar. See BURMA.
A country in South Asia bounded by China on the north and India on the south. Believed to be the birthplace in the fifth century of a noble named Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha. Its capital, Kathmandu, is known for its history and culture, as well as being the gateway to Mount Everest in Tibet (Sherpas are a mountain-dwelling people in eastern Nepal). A civil war with Maoist extremists culminated in the abolition of the monarchy in 2006. A long period of instability followed, with various factions of Marxists rising, falling and rising again. About the size of Arkansas. Capital: Kathmandu (also largest city). Population: 23 million (2012 estimate). Proportion of population younger than 15: more than one-third. Ethnic groups: Chhettri (16 percent), Brahman-Hill (13 percent), many others. Faith: Hinduism (official religion, 81 percent), Buddhism (11 percent) and others. Literacy: 49 percent. (Source: World Factbook.) See BUDDHISM.
Caution. Use of patronymic rules, in which names are modified to reflect the father. Ask the interview subject how to refer to him or her on second reference.
NIP: Avoid, a slur. Short for Nipponese, or Japanese, a holdover from the racism of World War II. Avoid also “nip in the bud” as suggesting Nip if there is an Asian element to the story. Se