"take offense to"; the "R-word"

[Jonathan Lighter]

CNN reports a related move specifically to "ban the 'R-word'" from all
federal legislation.  As of now, the phrase "mental retardation" is in
common legislative use.
It is not clear whether the phrase counts.

JL


On Mon, Feb 8, 2010 at 1:44 PM, Bill Palmer <w_a_palmer at bellsouth.net>wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Bill Palmer <w_a_palmer at BELLSOUTH.NET>
> Subject:      Re: "take offense to"; the "R-word"
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Somewhere I have seen the phrase (is it OK for me to say this?)
> "developmentally delayed", which will probably undergo the same thing that
> has happened to the "r word", as more sensitive terms are unearthed.
>
> Bill Palmer
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Seán Fitzpatrick" <grendel.jjf at VERIZON.NET>
> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 11:14 AM
> Subject: Re: "take offense to"; the "R-word"
>
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> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       =?iso-8859-1?Q?Se=E1n_Fitzpatrick?=
> > <grendel.jjf at VERIZON.NET>
> > Subject:      Re: "take offense to"; the "R-word"
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > <<It has boggled me for years that otherwise-thoughtful people would use
> > that
> > word.>>
> >
> > A twofer on the Retard Monitor.
> >
> > Sean Fitzpatrick
> > Mais oů sont les neiges d'antan?
> > I blame Global Warming.
> > http://www.logomachon.blogspot.com/
> >
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