Accentuate

Kristina Veasey

Emma I agree particularly with your last point. It is about considering the reasons why someone might be offended by the language we use.

Language changes and evolves all the time. What was once considered ok can become offensive in later years for all sorts of reasons. Similarly words that were once frowned upon can become common parlance. In terms of disability, (as Colin points out) some words have developed from a pity stance and are offensive in their origin (cretin, handicapped). Using those words perpetuates stereotypes and presses buttons in people on the receiving end.

Other words may have started out as factually (or medically) descriptive but have become synonymous with images and ideas that are disempowering and insulting (retarded, spastic). And there are words that may have other positive meanings but are patronising and have now become the latest insult to throw around (god's special children, special schools, "the specials", "What, are you special or something?").

Most of us tend to use different language in different settings and tailor it accordingly. For example I might choose different words when I speak to my grandparents, or to my children, or in the office or hanging out with friends. My principles don't change but I adapt to my setting and consider my audience. This doesn't mean I am more or less 'PC' with different groups, but it does mean that I try to think about my audience and what they may or may not find offensive and why that might be. If we manage it so easily for the little things, it really shouldn't be that hard to make the effort when it comes to things that pack a bigger punch.

I hope that the more discussion and debate that can be had around this, the more people will stop to think about the words they choose to use and the impact they have on others.

Colin, I thought your link to Victoria's letter to Frankie Boyle was well worth a read. The responses to it are also worth a look. Alison Wilde's in particular gives a slightly different flavour and will strike a chord with lots of people who feel the whole 'PC' and humour thing is difficult to untangle.

Sarah Playforth

Yes, language does matter and it is naive to think otherwise - it is how we demonstrate our views, thoughts about ourselves and others and our prejudices. It's not about pc (how I hate that phrase) it is about respect and context. Personally, I don't object to "girls night out" if it is is also "boys night out" but I find "the girls in the office" and similar belittling phrases about women at work offensive. I do use woman if I think about it but, because I too was brought up to say lady, I don't always manage it. It really is up to all of us to give some time to thinking about the words we use, being aware of what we are saying and its potential effects. I think we should all make the effort to challenge where we feel offended on our behalf or that of others and explain why too. We can only do our best and should not beat ourselves or others up about it.

Colin Hambrook

There is a thin line between seeing political correctness as being offensive or liberating. How do we create a world in which disabled people are not the fall guys in the playground? In a sense we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we make a fuss about language we are seen as taking things too seriously. If we don't make a fuss nothing will change.

I've noticed the tactics of the progenitors of disablism are changing. There was a dance on ice programme on tv at the weekend. They always have a judge who is set up to display the worst kind of arrogance. Personally I don't understand why this is meant to be entertaining... but then I don't understand most of what purports to be entertainment on tv.

The judge playing the Simon Cowell role accused one of the dancers in the competition of having a chromosome missing. This kind of derogatory language serves to perpetuate sterotypes. Of all impairment groups it is noticably learning disabled people who are the biggest targets for the insensitive and ignorant.

It has probably always been so... the word 'cretin' is derived from the French word for Christian - 'Chrétien.' In the days when having a learning disability was a sign of Gods disfavour, being 'crétin' was intended as a positive spin that you had a t least been baptised.

If I had my way I would probably uninvent television, but it is too late for that. In the meantime I guess all we can do is to keep on pointing that the injustice of disablism when it rears its ugly head.

Opinions will always be divided about language - especially when it involves humour. There is a very interesting address by Vicky Wright on the excesses of disablist comedian Frankie Boyle at http://www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/Victoria-Wright-addresses-Frankie-Boyle

Emma

Language is possibly the most important factor in both shaping defining society. Is there anything we do that does not involve language of some kind?

Starting from this premise, it makes sense that language has the ability to empower or disempower people and that people should be thoughtful in their use of words and language.

There is, however, a tendency for people to dictate what language others can or should lose rather than enter into the debate about why some language is more preferable than others. When I was at university, I assisted in the creation of a leaflet aimed at getting people to think about the language they used and conside the impact that may have on other people, consciously or otherwise. The response was pretty typical - "YOU CANT TELL ME WHAT WORDS TO SAY" as if we were trying...

I do think, however, that there are occasions when people lose touch with reality a little and thrown the baby out with the bathwater. The "girls night out" is a good example of this and really only stands to give the "anti-pc" brigade, for want of a better turn of phrase, ammunition for their usually pretty weak arguments.

The bottom line is that anything we can say has the ability to offend other people. We could get into posturing about how it is our right to say whatever we wish regardless of other people's views, PC or otherwise, but the "civil" part of civilised, to me, means that we would at least consider the reasons why people are offended by what we say or do, before we implode in an anti-PC rage.