Talk:Kanake

Can it really be confirmed that this term is derived from Kanak, Kanaky and Kanéka, all of which are derived from kanaka maoli? It seems somehow unlikely to me. //Big Adamsky 23:02, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, at least it's very probably, because it first was used by sailors for Polynesian helpers on ships and then didn't have any pejorative accent.

Wrong use of the word "dialect"

Turks in Germany cannot and do not have their own dialect, because the latter word means a regional diversity in language. The "Kanak Sprak" (a rarely used term by the way) is a SOCIOLECT.

Complete rubbish

Around the cities of Germany kanakas are quite easy to identify often sporting trousers with the pant legs rolled up and/or stuffed in high socks. Along with suede slip-on shoes. Kanackas also quite often play loud hip-hop or trance music on their cell phones, which often causes a disturbance on trains or in public places. And often address their friends or posse in the German slang "Alle" (but pronounced as "Alla") with a literal translation of "you all".

This is complete rubbish. First of all, this text describes so-called "Asis" (comparable to "chavs" in Britain) who are not necessarily from non-German decent. Secondly, people are referred to as "Kanaken" because of their race and not their social behaviour. And finally, this word "Alle" pronounced "Alla" is an invention! I have never ever heard that. ("Alle" means "all" or "everybody" in German and then there is "Allah"... but that is just what came to my mind when I read that. It's a joke probably.)

I suppose he means "Alda" ("Alter"), which is indeed widespread as a form of address ("Jo, Alda" - roughly equivalent to "Yo, dude"), but has nothing to with the alleged etymology above, and isn't restricted to the group in question, but used by young people in general.62.49.136.130 (talk) 13:46, 9 August 2013 (UTC)

Looks like whitewashing to me

"Persons who are not from those minorites, especially younger persons, also often call and describe people of Turkish, etc. origin as "Kanaken". It is used like every other normal term and the word is not understood as derogatory or insulting." This is definitely _not_ the case. Kanake does always have a degoratory implicitation (excepted the intern usage between poc's, as mentioned is analogue to such usage of the word 'nigger' between blacks). Context might diffuse that a bit, like when I call a friend names in good humor, but this doesn't make the word acceptable in normal usage. E.g. in the last three companies I worked calling somebody a Kanake would have been enough reason for reprimands and/or firing.