Concept of Ethnic, Races, and Society

“Ethnic” and “race” are words which have a similar meaning that need the exploration through references to know the concept which carry by the two words. Most of the people cannot easily differentiate the differences between the two words which seemed to be a same when defining the words.

According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (6th Edition)1, the word “race” is define as: one of the main groups that humans can be divided into according to their physical differences, for example the colour of their skin, or a group of people who share the same language, history, culture and so on. The other word “ethnic” is define as: connected with or belonging to a nation, race or tribe that shares a cultural tradition.

Based on the other dictionary, Macmillan English Dictionary For Advance Learners (2nd Edition) 2, “race” is define as: a group of people who are similar because they have the same skin colour or other physical features (do not discriminate on basis of race or gender) , or a group of people who are similar because they speak the same language or have the same history or customs. The word “ethnic” is define as: relating to a group of people who have the same culture and traditions.

From the definition of the word, we can toughly differentiate the two words, for example, “race” in Malaysia are Chinese, Malays and Indians which are commonly seen saperate biological races with consequently different culture, while “ethnic” in Malaysia are the citizens who live together in the country that can speak the same language and communicate with one another, that commonly known as Bahasa Melayu which is the national language of Malaysia.

Now a days, the concept of race and ethnic are much more difficult to make a definition. There are no certain published book which can give a clear difference between “ethnic” and “race”. Unlike in earlier times so clearly defined by nationality, language, culture and colour. The globalization has increase the mobility of...