Am I from an ethnic background?

some areas, 70% of the population of a school can be from an ethnic
background." What does it mean, to be from an ethnic background? Am I
from an ethnic background?

Flyiñg Ñuñ 2°°6 +...

It's just another misuse (or abuse) of the rich English language.

mothy...

ethnic adj. 1 a (of a social group) having a common national or
cultural tradition.

So isn't it implied that 70% are from a group of people other than the
indigenous population? So I would imagine that even those children who

Frederick Williams...

If what was meant was "70% are from a group of people other than the
indigenous population" why not say so, instead of introducing the
difficult concept of ethnic background?

I was once asked what my racial origins were, and I answered white
African (it was one of the options on the form). My reasoning: Homo
sapiens originated in the African rift valley and I am white. I confess
that another reason for me answering thus was that it wasn't the answer
that the nosey busy bodies who collect this information wanted.

were born here are from an ethnic background and don't belong to the
indigenous set.

indigenous adj. (often foll. by to) native or belonging naturally to a
place.

So if your ancestors are indigenous to these islands then you belong to
that set and not the ethnic set. I wonder at what point ethnic becomes
indigenous, after all, if those 70% stay and and have offspring of their

Frederick Williams...

Indeed so, both words are almost bereft of meaning.

own and so on. There you are, something else to question ... :-)