Are Varying English Dialects and National Backgrounds Complicating This Section?

Question

This is Yahoo Answers in English and has users from multiple countries. I am from the United States and I notice a lot of terms being used that would "Here in the States" be offensive but I can tell that a lot of the people using these terms who are from outside the States mean well and actually make very intelligent points.

In the United States the appropriate term for anyone with a disability is a Person with a disability. When specifying the type of disability it is always person first e.g. "The woman who is blind" as opposed to "The blind woman". Also a person is never handicapped. It is the environment that is handicapping e.g. a building without elevators or ramps would not be handicap accessible to a person with a physical disability.

So is appropriate terminology from different countries conflicting with the appropriate terminology from other countries?

Answer 1

Well--as a blind guy (which I am)--and from the US--I don't like the PC language--for two reasons:

1) Most of these terms were thought up by rehab/social workers. NO ONE ever asks the people with disabilities what they prefer--and it is we--not they--who have the right to decide

2) I wish these paternalistic do-gooders would spend a little less time on thinking up PC terms and focus on things that are important, like the lack of employment and the disgusting state of special education in our schools.

Answer 2

The answer to your ultimate question is "no."



I agree there is a little confusion over our shared language, but that can be easily cleared up by identifying where we are from in our questions.



However, in English, there are multiple ways to express the same idea. the "blind woman" is no different, linguistically, from the "woman who is blind." The only difference is in how the term is perceived by the person listening to the phrase.



If you are aware that different groups using the same language will express the same term in a variety of ways, yet mean no insult by the term, then you should not have a problem. Any conversation requires active, intelligent participation by two people, the speaker and the listener. Neither should be offended if no offense is meant.

Answer 3

totally there's difference in every body. Like for example, it is offending to say, "it's walking distance to the bart station". For me, if I'm not capable of walking because i'm in a wheelchair or something, I will never, never be offended by that. Because clearly what that means is it's very close to the bart stations and you don't need to drive there or ride a bus. It is not meant to offend anybody even a 1 year old who still can't walk. If you are disable and can't walk, then find someone who can take you there, right? I'm sure almost all of us want to extend a hand to these people and befriend them not because they are disable but to have friends here and there is a great achievement, at least for me. Instead of being offended. Sometimes people that does not have disability are disable too because there are so many offense that is not really offending if you will just have no self pity.

Answer 4

I understand your sentiment, but I think it is misplaced.



Too much time is spent worrying about what is the newest PC way to refer to the differently abled, when more time should be spent educating people on what great people can come out of such a tough life.



Personally I like the idea of having all teenagers or twenty somethings be encouraged to work and be paid for working with differently abled people. I learned more about cleaning house and cooking while working at a care home then I did from my parents or living on my own.



Volunteer work is too forced, but I think young people could appreciate a little pocket cash while expanding their view of the world. Besides we could "hire" (pay) some of the higher functioning customers to "teach" life skills to young men and women. Sort of like a Big Brother/Sister Program.

Answer 5

I think your sentiments are admirable, but naive. Yes, it would be nice to think that 'people first' language, ie woman who is blind, is always used in this country. But you know it is not true. And there are plenty of people who use the term handicapped routinely.



My advice? Just keep reeducating those people who are well-meaning when they talk about people with challenges but use language that is offensive. thanks~

Answer 6

The whole PC thing is completely ridiculous. There is no way to force people to speak differently than they feel. You can try all you want but they are going to say what they want even if it is only among their own like-minded group. They may try to clean it up for public platforms but not in private. Anyway, PC is relative and not even among all. Being fat is not a concern to otherwise PC conscious people. Fat is nasty, ugly, disgusting and needs to be burned, killed, or sucked out. That is not so positive an image for fat people. If you're going to worry about being PC then be that to everyone but I'd rather just say what I say than have to run through the bull sh*t list of what I can't say and to whom I can't say it. Calling a black man articulate is okay if you're black. If you're white you shouldn't refer to a black man who has obviously set standards for himself that even some white people can't get to. Who cares. Can't people take a compliment without turning it into a mess? Why is Don Imus in trouble? He made a TRUE statement. My daughters are bi-racial. When they straighten their hair, they don't want to get in the rain, the pool, or sweat. Would it be racist of me, their white mother, to say something about their nappy hair when they do? Please. Grow up America. We have more things to worry about than this kind of crap.

Answer 7

What?

We get to use our common language and if someones english isn't so good then he needs this web site more than others. I love diversity and different expressions and trying to figure out what they mean. But in the USA we celebrate diversity. We enjoy listening to different languages and hearing about other cultures.

As far as being politically correct, as they say in New york!

"for get about it."