"Intra": can it be used just like "sub" or does it have extra nuance?

Question

I'm editing a draft academic paper at the moment that distinguishes between the variety that exists between several groups, on one hand, and the varieties that exist within one of those groups, on the other. The way the author has expressed this is by "inter-racial variety" and "intra-racial varieties", but there's something about this way of expressing it that rubs me up all wrong. Specifically, I think, it seems to me that "intra-racial varieties" should be "sub- racial varieties."

Here are some examples:

"Kant advocates White intra-racial diversity." [looks fine]

"[I]ntra-racial mixing leads to intraracial varieties” [looks odd to me; I would say subracial here]

Intuitively, "intra-" is used to refer to connecting objects with a group: e.g., intra-group dialogue, differences, or variety. I intuitively think that "intra-" is the wrong prefix to use to refer to objects that fall within a category.

A quick websearch suggests that I'm wrong by the definition, but all the examples I see arguably fit my usage: I see intrastate highways, intramural sports, etc., but not intragroups (subgroups is better) or intraspecies (subspecies is better).

Is my intuition right?

Answer 1

The prefix "intra-" means within, which works with your examples:

• intra-group dialogue: dialogue within a group
• intrastate highways: highways within a state
• intramural sports: sports within the walls

Your question is confusing, because first you talk about "the variety that exists between groups", then about "intra-racial varieties"; the word variety has different meanings based on whether it is used uncountably (eg "having different forms or shapes" sense 1), or countably (eg "something different from others of the same general kind" sense 3a).

If the paper talks about the sets of differences between groups and within groups, then "inter-racial" and "intra-racial" (respectively) would be a common way of distinguishing that; there's no need for a "connecting" aspect to the meaning.

If, on the other hand, it's referring to narrower groupings within a particular group, "intra-racial varieties" is probably confusing. But I'd be inclined to avoid "sub-racial varieties", because the prefix "sub-" can connote "inferior", which is not the message you want to be sending when discussing race.

Answer 2

I think your author is correct:

intraracial adjective
Within, or occurring within, a race.
_{[selected attestation]
1957   These two groups [of early Man] are in effect intra~racial variants. —Antiquity vol. 31 196
Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required)}

Variants within the race. Within-the-race variants. Intraracial variants. Intraracial varieties.

Answer 3

Instead of setting up an inter/intra prefix distinction, I'd keep "intraracial" when needed (though it doesn't have to be used) and find standalone prepositions:

There is variety across races with respect to ________, as well as variety within race.