Language and Power:
Political correctness
in the English-Speaking
World
Ломакова Анна Викторовна
кандидат культурологии,
доцент кафедры английского языка и методики
преподавания
Кузбасской государственной педагогической
академии
26 января 2012 г.
Political correctness (PC, 1975)
PC has 2 levels:
- a matter of choosing one’s words carefully
- ideological (all political relationships are
defined in language deemed to be correct
(obligatory) or incorrect (inadmissible).
PC relates to a number of “societal sins”, -isms
(racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, etc)
Identity: Language, race and ethnicity
Identity is about how we define who we are.
Some Identities can be privileged over others
(white Europeans – non-Europeans)
Language can be an instrument of
oppression
Anti-Racist Language
Anti-Racist Language
Banned or problematic Alternatives
Race Ethnicity or nationality
Black, nigger, negro, coloured, Afro- African American
American
Indians Native Americans, “First Nations”
people, First Americans
Immigrants, foreigners Newcomer s
Aborigines Indigenious population
Oriental Asian (using specific nationality)
White Caucasian
Minority groups People of colour, traditionally
underrepresented groups
Half-breed Multi-ethnic
Language and gender:
“One man in two is a woman”
Language is an expression of
patriarchy – women are voiceless
in language, because public
discourse is dominated by men and
the language of public discourse is
“encoded” with male meanings
(Edwin Ardener)
E.g.: Man
Mankind
Manpower
Man-made fibers
Brotherhood
History
Language, Gender and Culture
Divide the following nouns according to
the category of gender into masculine,
feminine and nongendered (neuter).
Secretary, doctor, wife, president, bride,
dancer, footballer, groom, sales assistant,
manager, policeman, nurse, heir, doll, maid-
servant, victim, cousin, thief, priest, widow,
hero, monk, spinster, cleaner, nun, professor,
scout, fireman, mother, student, husband,
tramp
Controversial Alternatives
Women womyn or wimmin
Double pronouns (he/she; s/he)
Alternative pronouns (hir, jhe, hesh, ze, etc.)
Nongendered expressions (one)
Ungrammatical “They”
Every child should know who their father is.
Julia added 1 new song to their profile.
Generic “She”
Hold your baby’s hands away from her food.
Miss, Mrs, Ms, or … ?
Women’s status
Traditional:
• Mr. and Mrs. John Winston
• “We talked of you and Mrs. You”
(Henry James, a letter to his friend, 1894)
20th century tendencies:
• Mrs. Alice Winston
• Miss, Mrs. “Ms” [mi:z]
Dealing with –Man in Job Titles
Banned or problematic Alternatives
Barman, barmaid Bartender
Businessman, businesswoman Bisenessperson
Chairman Chairperson
Cowboy Cowhand
Fireman Firefighter
Housewife Homemaker
Housemaid Housekeeper
Manpower Workforce, staff, personnel
Policeman Police officer
Showman Showperson
Sportsman Athlet
Steward, stewardess Flight attendant
Christian Feminism
Traditional term Russian equivalent New Bible
translation
Lord Господь Sovereign
King Царь Monarch, Ruler
God the Father Бог-Отец God the Mother and
Father
Son of God Сын Божий Child of God
Son of Man Сын Человеческий Human One
Adam and Eve Адам и Ева Eve and Adam
Brethren Братия Brothers and sisters
Clergyman Священнослужитель Member of clergy
Undesirable Images
in Educational Literature
Pink for girls, blue for boys
Girls always wearing dresses
Men and boys as athletic, strong an brave
Women and girls in need of rescue
Boys playing ball, while girls watch
Girls playing dolls
Women portrayed as nurse or secretary
Men portrayed as policemen or lawyers
Mother always wearing aprons
Men as sole breadwinners for the family
Language and age
Ageing is a natural
process, but it is also a
cultural construct which is
shaped and controlled by
cultural ideas of what is
appropriate and
conventional behaviour at
certain ages.
Language and Ageism
Banned or problematic Alternatives
Old Chronologically gifted /
advantaged
Pensioner Senior citizen
Elderly people Older adult, man /
woman of … (age)
Child Age disadvantaged
Gifted children Advanced learners
Problematic Politically correct
Dishonest Ethically disorientated
Bald Hair disadvantaged
Lazy Motivationally deficient
Blind Optically challenged
Poor Economically disadvantaged
Ugly Cosmetically different
Rich Differentially advantaged
Dead Metabolically challenged
Invalid Physically challenged
Short (about people) Vertically challenged
Fat (about people) Horizontally challenged
Pets Animal companions
House plants Botanical companions
Slums Substandard housing
Criminal Behaviourally challenged
Drunk Chemically inconvenienced
Shy Conversationally selective
Foolish Euphemisms
“I told them that I was poor. They told me
that term was too negative and asked to call
myself economically marginalised, so I did.
Then they told me to say that I was in search
of pecuniary advancement. Finally, I was
advised to state that I am striving for
greater financial security. The result is that
now I have a much richer vocabulary but not
one penny more to my name!”
Happy Holidays!
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION