---
title: racism — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «racism» in the school dictionary: Racism is treating people unfairly, or thinking they are worse, because of their race, skin colour, nationality or ethnic group. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# racism

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Racism, people, society, Martin, you, footballers · **What happens:** treat, think, be, race, disadvantage, not be · **To what, where:** people, unfair rules, society, groups, school, racism · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«racism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [racism in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/racism.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Racism is treating people unfairly, or thinking they are worse, because of their race, skin colour, nationality or ethnic group.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:m1:1
# text = Racism is treating people unfairly, or thinking they are worse, because of their race, skin colour, nationality or ethnic group.
1	Racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	treating	treat	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	unfairly	unfairly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	thinking	think	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	conj	_	_
9	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
10	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
11	worse	bad	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
13	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	16	case	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	13	fixed	_	_
15	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	16	nmod:poss	_	_
16	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
18	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	compound	_	_
19	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	21	punct	_	_
21	nationality	nationality	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	conj	_	_
22	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	24	cc	_	_
23	ethnic	ethnic	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **treat** | present · progressive | Racism |  | people |  |  | unfairly *property* | vn equip-13.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 2 | **think** *speech: other* | gerund | Racism *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is** | present | people |  |  |  |  | bad *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **race** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom race «event intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Racism is also unfair rules or systems in a society that disadvantage some groups because of race.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:m2:1
# text = Racism is also unfair rules or systems in a society that disadvantage some groups because of race.
1	Racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
4	unfair	unfair	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	systems	system	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	society	society	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	disadvantage	disadvantage	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	14	det	_	_
14	groups	group	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	obj	_	_
15	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	17	case	_	_
16	of	of	ADP	IN	_	15	fixed	_	_
17	race	race	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Racism | unfair rules or systems |  | a society |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **disadvantage** | present | a society | some groups |  |  |  | because race | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Racism is never acceptable at our school.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x1:1
# text = Racism is never acceptable at our school.
1	Racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	never	never	ADV	RB	PronType=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	acceptable	acceptable	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	at	at	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | present | Racism |  |  | our school |  | acceptable *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Martin Luther King Jr spoke out against racism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x2:1
# text = Martin Luther King Jr spoke out against racism.
1	Martin	Martin	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
2	Luther	Luther	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
3	King	King	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
4	Jr	Jr.	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	flat	_	_
5	spoke	speak	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	out	out	ADP	RP	_	5	compound:prt	_	_
7	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak out** *speech: other* | past | Martin |  |  |  |  | against racism | vn lecture-37.11-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you see racism, tell a trusted adult.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x3:1
# text = If you see racism, tell a trusted adult.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	see	see	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	advcl	_	_
4	racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
6	tell	tell	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	trusted	trust	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	9	amod	_	_
9	adult	adult	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | racism |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer racism=Stimulus |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | imperative | you *not said here* |  | a trusted adult |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent adult=Recipient |
| 3 | **trust** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn conjecture-29.5-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The footballers knelt to show they stand against racism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x4:1
# text = The footballers knelt to show they stand against racism.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	footballers	footballer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	knelt	kneel	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	stand	stand	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
8	against	against	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **kneel** | past | the footballers |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **show** | to-infinitive | the footballers *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **stand** | present | footballers *= footballer* |  |  | racism |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent against racism=Location |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Apartheid in South Africa was a system of racism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x5:1
# text = Apartheid in South Africa was a system of racism.
1	Apartheid	Apartheid	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	Africa	Africa	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	system	system	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | Apartheid in South Africa | a system |  |  |  | of racism | tree rules |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling someone names because of their skin colour is racism.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x6:1
# text = Calling someone names because of their skin colour is racism.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	csubj	_	_
2	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	compound	_	_
3	names	name	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	because	because	ADP	IN	ExtPos=ADP	8	case	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	fixed	_	_
6	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	colour	colour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
9	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  | someone names |  |  |  | because names's skin colour | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent name=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Calling | racism |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The book helped us understand how racism hurts people.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:racism:x7:1
# text = The book helped us understand how racism hurts people.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	book	book	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	helped	help	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	obj	_	_
5	understand	understand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	how	how	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	8	advmod	_	_
7	racism	racism	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
8	hurts	hurt	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	ccomp	_	_
9	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | past | the book | us |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent we=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **understand** | infinitive | us *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1-1 «NP V how S\_INF»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 3 | **hurt** | present | racism | people |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer people=Patient |

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**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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