[Ads-l] "Oppressive Language List"

[Dan Goncharoff]

No one seems to ever address the question of address when you DON'T know
the preferences of another person.

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 10:29 AM dave at wilton.net <dave at wilton.net> wrote:

>
> I agree that the list is badly formed, but a couple of points:
>
> 1) The list was apparently made by students (undergrads?). It does not, as
> far as I can tell, come from the "university."
>
> 2) It's not clear if the list is backed by any disciplinary force. There
> is no mention of any consequences for using the proscribed terms. So, it
> doesn't appear to be a "free speech" issue.
>
> So, it appears that this is a list of suggestions for being polite (i.e.,
> avoid unintentionally offending anyone). Given that, the list is not so
> absurd. "Don't use 'rule of thumb' casually because there are some people
> who will take it amiss" is not bad advice. (I think the proscription
> against "irregardless" is silly and foolish, but I don't use it myself
> precisely because some people hate it; I don't have a problem in not using
> it.)
>
> Finally, no one has mentioned what I think is the worst item on the list,
> the people-first approach to referring to people with disabilities. This is
> a much debated issue in the disability-rights community and there is no
> consensus. Some prefer "disabled person" over "person with a disability"
> because they consider their disability part of their identity; their
> disability is part of who they are as a person, and the "person-first"
> approach strips them of that part of their identity. (This is perhaps most
> strongly felt in the deaf community.) There is no right answer to this one,
> other than listen to what the the person in question prefers. This one
> doesn't fall into the "good advice" category.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Stephen Goranson" <goranson at DUKE.EDU>
> Sent: Monday, June 28, 2021 8:14am
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: [ADS-L] "Oppressive Language List"
>
>
>
> I (Brandeis BA '72) did not know some of these offended anyone. Sunlight
> best disinfectant, Louie? At least the page listing suggestions does
> reaffirm free speech. Will the Justice student paper no longer celebrate a
> sports win with "Brandeis Masters Bates"?
>
> SG
>
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>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>

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