Politically correct

vocabulary

Political correctnessPolitical correctness

is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in

occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, religious belief,

disability, and age-related contexts, and doing so to an excessive extent.

Examples of the term can be found as early as the 18th century. The previous meaning was 'in line with prevailing political thought

or policy'. The term previously used 'correctness' in its literal sense and without any particular reference to language that

might be considered offensive or discriminatory.

Widespread use of the term politically correct

and its derivatives began when it was

adopted as a pejorative term by the

political right in the 1990s, in the context of the Culture Wars.

In addressing the linguistic problem of naming, Edna Andrews says that using

"inclusive" and "neutral" language is based upon the concept that "language

represents thought, and may even control thought." This claim has been derived

from the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, which states that a language’s grammatical

categories shape the speaker’s ideas and actions

Advocates of inclusive language defend it as inoffensive-language usage whose goal is multi-fold:

• The rights, opportunities, and freedoms of certain people are restricted because they are reduced to stereotypes.

• Stereotyping is mostly implicit, unconscious, and facilitated by the availability of pejorative labels and terms.

• Rendering the labels and terms socially unacceptable, people then must consciously think about how they describe someone unlike themselves.

• When labeling is a conscious activity, the described person's individual merits become apparent, rather than his or her stereotype.

Euphemisms that Euphemisms, mitigate various types of discrimination.

1. Age discrimination (middlescence, third age, senior, mature);

2. Estate discrimination (economically exploited, low-income, differently advantaged)

3. Non-discrimination of people with disabilities (physically challenged, handicapable, learning disable, special)

4. Racial and ethnic discrimination (person of color, member of African diaspora, indigenous person)

Euphemisms, that reduce the superstitious

fear of any phenomena.

Moonchild, hospice, room of reconciliation, therapeutic misadventure.

Euphemisms, raising the prestige of individual occupations.

Hairstylist, funeral director, sanitation engineer, environmental hygienist

Euphemisms that distract from the negative phenomena of reality.

1. Serve as cover for aggressive military action (involvement, device, air support, pacification, body-count);

2. Are associated with negative effects in the socio-economic sphere (period of economic adjustment, downsizing, negative cash flow);

3. Are associated with crime (correctional facilities, custodial officer, client, guest)

Broken HomeBroken Home Replaced by Dysfunctional family.

BumBumReplaced by Homeless Person.

CrazyCrazyReplaced by the term Mental Illness.

CriminalCriminalReplaced by behaviorally challenged.

FatFatReplaced by Enlarged physical condition caused

by a completely natural genetically-induced hormone imbalance.

Foreign FoodForeign FoodReplaced by Ethnic Cuisine.

Founding FathersFounding Fathers Replaced by the term The Founders.

GhettoGhettoReplaced by Economically disadvantaged area.

HousewifeHousewifeReplaced by Domestic Engineer.

Illegal AliensIllegal AliensReplaced by Undocumented Immigrants.

JanitorJanitorReplaced by Custodial Artist.

JungleJungleReplaced by Rainforest.

PsychoPsychoReplaced by Pathologically High-Spirited

SecretarySecretaryReplaced by Administrative Assistant

Sex ChangeSex ChangeReplaced by gender re-assignment.

Trailer ParkTrailer ParkReplace by Mobile Home Community.

UglyUglyReplaced by Visually Challenging.

Campaign Against Political Correctness

• The Campaign Against Political Correctness is a non-partisan organisation in the United Kingdom created to oppose what its founders describe as political correctness. The name is sometimes shortened to the acronym 'CAPC'.

• It is causing tension between communities • It is encouraging racism and sexism - especially

in the job market - encouraging people to be given jobs based on the colour of their skin or

their sex and not on their merit.• It tries to protect those identified as "minorities"

(also including women!) despite the fact that they very rarely consult these people before they

speak on their behalf and more often than not thoroughly insult them by assuming that they are not perfectly capable of defending themselves or

asking for help if they want it • Although it is supposed to be around to prevent

offence it deems it acceptable to offend the majority of people on a regular basis.