xenophobia
xenophobia
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling for "Xenophobia" (two possible pronunciations)
American English:
/ˌziː.nəˈfoʊ.bi.ə/ (preferred)
British English:
/ˌzɛn.əˈfəʊ.bɪ.ə/
Breakdown by Syllable:
xen- (ˌz / ɛn.ə):
/z/: voiced alveolar fricative (similar to "s" in "zoo")
/ɛ/: near-low central vowel (similar to "e" in "head")
/n/: alveolar nasal (similar to "n" in "name")
/ə/: schwa (short, central vowel sound, like the "u" in "above")
-o- (ˈf.əʊ.**):
/ˈ/: primary stress on this syllable
/f/: labiodental fricative (similar to "f" in "fish")
/əʊ/: close back rounded vowel (similar to "ou" in "sound")
**-phob- (b.i.ə):
/b/: bilabial plosive (similar to "b" in "book")
/i/: close front unrounded vowel (similar to "i" in "happy")
/ə/: schwa (short, central vowel sound, like the "u" in "above")
**-ia (ə):
/ə/: schwa (short, central vowel sound, like the "u" in "above")
Word Form Variations
Xenophobia is a singular noun. It refers to the specific concept of fear or dislike of people from other cultures or countries.
There isn't a standard plural form for xenophobia. However, in some contexts, you might see the plural form "xenophobias" used to refer to multiple instances of this fear or prejudice. But this usage is less common.
Here's a breakdown of the more common variations:
Singular: xenophobia
Less common plural: xenophobias
It's generally better to stick with the singular form "xenophobia" to describe the overall concept.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: An intense fear, distrust, or hostility towards people from foreign countries or cultures, or anything perceived as strange or unfamiliar.
Synonyms: nativism, ethnocentrism, bigotry, intolerance
Antonyms: cosmopolitanism, open-mindedness, multiculturalism, acceptance
Adjective:
Definition: Exhibiting or characterised by xenophobia.
Synonyms: xenophobic, nativist, ethnocentric, bigoted, intolerant
Antonyms: cosmopolitan, open-minded, multicultural, accepting
Note:
There are no verb or adverb forms for xenophobia commonly used in English. You would typically use phrases like "to be xenophobic" or "to act in a xenophobic way" to express verb-like qualities. Similarly, adverbs related to xenophobia would likely use descriptive phrases like "xenophobically motivated" or "with xenophobic undertones."
Examples of Use
Literature:
Book: In Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the character of Mrs. Dubose expresses xenophobic views towards Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbour, attributing his isolation to strangeness and possibly even foreignness (Lee).
News Articles:
Newspaper: A recent article in The Guardian discussed the rise of xenophobia in Europe amidst the refugee crisis, highlighting how fear of the unknown and cultural differences can fuel prejudice (The Guardian, [date of article]).
Online Publications:
Social Media: Xenophobia can manifest online through hateful comments directed towards immigrants or people of different ethnicities on social media platforms like Twitter (source: personal observation).
Entertainment Media:
Film: The dystopian film District 9 portrays a fictional South African society grappling with xenophobia as they struggle to integrate an alien refugee population (Neill Blomkamp, District 9).
Public Discourse:
Political Speeches: Unfortunately, xenophobia can be used as a political tool. Speeches by politicians that demonise immigrants or play on fears about cultural differences can be seen as examples of xenophobia (source: various news reports).
Daily Life:
Casual Conversation: Everyday conversations can sometimes reveal subtle xenophobia. Comments like "They're taking all our jobs" or assumptions about someone's intelligence based on their accent can be rooted in xenophobic attitudes (source: personal observation).
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Xenophobia
Unfortunately, there aren't many widely known quotes that directly use the word "xenophobia." The concept has been around for centuries, but the term itself is not as commonly used in everyday speech.
However, here are ten quotes that address the ideas and consequences of xenophobia:
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." - Yoda (Star Wars) (While fictional, this quote captures the destructive path of fear that underlies xenophobia)
"Ignorance and fear will fan the flames of hatred." - Dalai Lama
"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible." - Maya Angelou
"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind." - Mahatma Gandhi
"The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one." - Malcolm X
"Since we cannot all feel alike, let us be tolerant of each other's feelings." - Voltaire
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a president and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country." - William O. Douglas (This quote by Supreme Court Justice Douglas highlights the importance of citizen participation in a democracy, which can be threatened by xenophobia)
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
"The stranger within my gate, he may be the foe or friend alike, but I cannot tell his purpose by his dress, or the language that he speaks." - G.K. Chesterton (This quote emphasises the importance of looking beyond superficial differences)
Etymology
The word "xenophobia" is like a mashup of two ancient Greek words.
Xenos means "stranger" or even "guest." Imagine someone showing up at your doorstep in ancient Greece – that would be a "xenos."
Phobos means "fear" – like when you're afraid of the dark.
So, literally, xenophobia translates to "fear of strangers."
The word itself is pretty new, though the concept has been around for ages. People have been suspicious of outsiders for as long as there have been outsiders! The word "xenophobia" wasn't actually used until around the 1880s, which is surprisingly recent.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Xenophobia
While there aren't many common idioms directly using "xenophobia," here are some phrases that capture the idea:
Us vs. Them mentality: This describes a situation where people feel a strong distinction between their own group and outsiders, potentially leading to xenophobia.
Pulling up the drawbridge: This idiom refers to shutting out outsiders and isolating oneself, which can be a result of xenophobia.
Fear of the unknown: This common phrase describes the apprehension people may feel towards anything unfamiliar, which can fuel xenophobia.
Scapegoating: Blaming a problem on a particular group, often immigrants or foreigners, is a tactic sometimes used by those with xenophobic views.
Building walls, not bridges: This metaphorical phrase describes actions that create division and separation, which can be linked to xenophobia.
Posts Related to Xenophobia
Source Information
Definition of xenophobia from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
