The Importance of Language

by LoveUniHateExams 16 Replies latest social current

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  LoveUniHateExams

  Language is obviously a very important thing. Obviously, language is essential in conveying ideas - without it, we'd be screwed.

  But it goes beyond that in terms of its importance.

  First, it's a good idea to use accurate language, especially when talking about important things or discussing difficult topics.

  Second, we should be free to use the words we want to use. Unfortunately, there is an attempt by certain people to control what words we can and cannot say. This is evident in Canada's Bill C-16, which requires by law people to use other people's pronouns. Plus, I've just come across a video which gives a list of terms for hospitals to call female patients:

  Vulva havers

  Womb-bearers

  Menstruators

  Egg-providers
  

  Person with eggs

  
  

  ^^^ sorry, couldn't resist it, that last term is ridiculous, lol.

  The world isn't always an easy place in which to live, and life often throws up difficult issues.

  We should be free to use the words we want to use. Social media platforms such as Twitter and FaceBook take note.
  
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  Phizzy

  I agree broadly with what you say, but with the proviso that we should not use words that spring from Racism or Hate and are intended to hurt the person being spoken of. All Freedoms have some limits.

  But there is a strong influencing group who are becoming Word Nazis and it is becoming silly. Another problem is where on-line sites use an electronic system to pick up words that are deemed offensive, these systems make mistakes, and of course cannot distinguish between using a word gratuitously and using it in an acceptable context.

  You can easily end up banned from a Social Media Site for wrongly spelling the word cant for example ! Type U instead of A and you are in Social Media Prison !
• 

  slimboyfat

  Plus, I've just come across a video which gives a list of terms for hospitals to call female patients:

  Vulva havers
  Womb-bearers
  Menstruators
  Egg-providers
  Person with eggs

  Mmm colour me skeptical. Where is this “video”? It sounds like something a conservative made up on the Internet because they’ve got too much time on their hands.
• 

  road to nowhere

  That personal pronoun thing is unbelievable. We cannot know some imaginary word.

  What do you call an egg bearer after menopause? Dry hole?

  As for too much time on hands here we are!
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  slimboyfat

  I assume the person who gave me a thumbs down is waiting to view this “video which gives a list of terms for hospitals to call female patients”, too. Should be interesting.
• 

  TD

  Words have a flavor that dictionaries don't convey.

  If, for example, your parents weren't married when you were conceived, there's all sorts of ways to say it in standard English. Some are simply statements of fact and some are not.

  Learning how not to make horrible faux pas like that is one of the hardest things about learning a new language.
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  Mmm colour me skeptical. Where is this “video”? - here's the video ...

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDEMGTMO7zM
  

  BTW, why on earth should you be sceptical? Remember that JK Rowling got a ton of online hate, including death threats, for simply mocking the phrase 'people who menstruate'.
  
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  LoveUniHateExams

  Learning how not to make horrible faux pas like that is one of the hardest things about learning a new language - very much so.

  I was reading a book in my local library by a British guy who lived with and photographed Bedouin people. Many Arabs are urbanised/settled, but some still roam the deserts of the Arabian peninsula and the Levant, rearing camels and/or sheep/goats (some Bedouin even consider Bedouin who raise sheep/goats as not true Bedouin XD).

  This British author apparently highly offended a Dubai businessman by calling his ancestors 'Bedouin', lol. He didn't mean any offence, he obviously holds a romantic view of Bedouin people, unlike the Dubai businessman. XD
  
• 

  LoveUniHateExams

  But there is a strong influencing group who are becoming Word Nazis and it is becoming silly - indeed.

  People should be able to express themselves however they wish, as long as they're not using abusive language, or using words in an abusive context.
  

  'Word Nazis' - I think I'll nick that. ;)
  
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  slimboyfat

  Well that was a waste of 12 minutes. There was no mention “vulva havers” or “womb bearers”, and the similar terms were media headlines out of context, not for use in “hospitals”.

  The use of “egg providers” was apparently a fertility context, not a general replacement for the word “women”.
  

  I am aware of JK Rowling’s comments on women’s rights, and am generally in agreement with what she says (with the caveat that I don’t know all the issues or context). I suspect she has got a point.

  What I’m not in favour of, is just making stuff up.

  TD the dictionary clearly labels words such as “bastard” as offensive, or term of abuse, which seems clear enough. Plus the definition relates to marital status of parents at time of birth, not conception.