Foreigner vs alien
What is the essential difference in meaning between foreigner and alien ?
I more often see on the US government web portal "alien", even though I perceive myself as being a foreigner. My Englisk leaves a lot to be desired I agree.
As a Canadian citizen am I an alien or a foreigner or am I both depending on the context ?
7 Answers
Bon jour Felipe,
The U.S. Government in it's official language refers to non-Americans as "aliens". Persons in the US without proper papers are referred to as "illegal aliens." The phrase has always seemed to me to be jingoism at its worst.
In normal language, a foreigner is someone from another country, or a stranger to a region. An alien would be a foreigner from outer space, or an invading plant species from another ecosystem.
What is the essential difference in meaning between foreigner and alien?
I would say—and especially in the context which you have supplied—the term "foreigner" is a bit broader. Typically, an alien is used more specifically to refer to a foreign born person who is not a citizen of a given country.
As a Canadian citizen am I an alien or a foreigner or am I both depending on the context?
You could reasonably be described as either.
The word "foreigner" would imply that you are a foreign born person who is residing in or visiting another place or land and who, especially in regards to culture, customs and/or language, enjoys an upbringing that is markedly distinct from the so called "common" heritage of the people living in your current host country.
The word "alien;" however, is a term that carries with it the implication that your political allegiance possibly/probably lies with another country or people. That is, it marks you as being one who is not a citizen of the country in which you are residing or visiting.
In regards to terminology specific to the U.S:
A resident alien refers to one who has the legal authority of the U.S. government to reside in the country for a given period of time (i.e. for work, school, or to attain citizenship).
A nonresident alien refers to one who has the legal authority of the U.S. government to visit the country for a given period of time.
An illegal alien refers to one who is residing or visiting the country without the legal authority of the U.S. government.
Notes on etymology:
The word "alien" itself is rooted in the Latin word "ali?nus (that which belongs to another place, person or object)," a term itself stemming from "al?us" which was used to express the idea of "other" and which also gives rise to English words such as "else," "elsewhere" and "alias," as well as the Spanish word "ajeno." If pressed, I would suggest that the original Latin sense of the word is very similar to the way in which the word is used today in many contexts.
It is interesting that many people, when confronted with the term "alien," often immediately think of little green men from Mars or E.T., that is to say, aliens from outer space. Given such a connotation, it is no wonder that the word is often viewed as offensive by those not wishing to equate themselves—metaphorically or otherwise—with extraterrestrials or otherworldly creatures. Of course, this trend in usage is due largely to the emergence and popularity of the science fiction genre that began around the turn of the 20th century; however, (at least according to the Oxford English Dictionary), the usage of the term "alien" in this manner is in fact a much more recent phenomenon, with the OED placing its entry into the language as having occurred in 1944.
On the other hand, the use of the word "Alien" to describe "strangers living in a strange land" is much older, indeed. In fact, the term "alien" has been used in this way in the United States from almost its very inception. In 1798, for example, the US passed a series of acts collectively referred to as "The Alien and Sedition Acts" (laws which severely curtailed the rights of non-citizen residents of the United States and which certainly lead to numerous instances of abuse and jingoistic rabble rousing as alluded to earlier by Jeremias).
In regards to jingoism:
Despite the fact that both terms, at their core, are at best exclusionary in nature (that is terms used to highlight the difference between various groups, i.e. to point out one's "otherness"), I would still mention that each of these words—"alien" and "foreigner"—has the capacity to be either bellicose or (relatively) benign, depending on the context. The fact is that words tend to be colored by both the intent of the speaker as well as the attitude of the listener.
"Alien" is most popularly used to mean an alien from outer space, but they both have a similar meaning. Alien can be used just to mean strange. For example, my parents are both American but my mother is from a mountain farm family and my father is from a working-class city family. Dad's parents' city mannerisms are quite alien to my mom, but not foreign. My boyfriend is from India. He is a foreigner. But yes, they can both mean not from the country you're talking about. Alien is usually the official term.
A strange thing about the British is that they are never foreigners. If they live abroad they become expats. The expats living in Spain have a strong tendency to regard the Spanish as the foreigners, I have noticed.
When I first arrived in England, more than 30 years ago, foreigners were required to register with the local police. I did so. There were two desk drawers in the police office. One said: Aliens: live. The other said: Aliens: Dead. I have always wondered how the dead ones managed to go in and register.
Ok your neither unless in your mind u except you are one or the other...for example those words were made to seperate and segragate people....when the spaniards conquer mexico for 4oo yrs. They were the out cast and outsiders untile they conquered mexico...than the mestizos were the outsiders another ex. When the europeans came to america.. the white man were outsiders to the natives and indian desendents in america....but the white man took over and made theire own laws of outsiders, illigals, foreigner, immigrant.....you see it all depends on what side you are in a timeline...in 100 yrs from know canadians might rule the u.s.a....so what will that make u? Not a foreigner or and alien....what if the usa is owned my mexico in 100 yrs from now? Who than will be an alien or foreigner??? You see those words do not make you it all depense who is ruling the country, and who ever rules the country will use those words as a form of segragation. 
Generally, a foreigner lives in another country. An illegal alien would be someone who has moved here without permission and are not allowed in the country, An immigrant is someone who is in the country with valid permissions
As a Canadian citizen am I an alien or a foreigner or am I both depending on the context ?
You´re a Canuck and you should be proud.
