ACB2 - Speaking to Inform manual - Saying it Right
All of us have our baggage from the past, and this often determines what we say and also how we respond to what others say. Therefore it’s very important to carefully consider our words before saying them, to ensure no offense is committed. This is especially true in a diverse society like here in SA.
Many words are offensive and often we don’t even know it. A typical example which some of you might be able to relate to is the work “fat”. Calling someone “fat “ is of course a huge no-no, particularly if that person happens to be challenged from a gender point of view. So what to do if the best adjective just happens to be “fat”? How to convey the meaning.
There are three ways that are often used:
1) Implication
This means to imply a result from an activity. So instead of using the offensive word “fat” you can rather say, “she’s a hungry individual.” Similarly, lots of other adjectives are problematic, like “thin” or “little”. Rather use implication and say she’s a low carbohydrate absorbing individual.
2) Alternative words
The second technique is a common one and involves the use of alternative adjectives which are similar in meaning to the word in question. However, you have to be very careful to not cause alternative offense. Returning to our three letter f word example, you might be tempted to say “a big person”. If that person happens to be of such a cultural persuasion that the term “big” is an insult, you have a constitutionally challenging problem which might lead to a financially challenging one. A better alternative adjective to use would be “horizontally challenged” if they’re big in that way. Same with adjectes such as “little” – vertically challenged. The third possible technique,
3) Obfuscation
This involves using diversity to your advantage. You see, diverse people often may not have such a grip on the English language as you have, so if you make use of long, complicated phrases and say them fast, the chances of offence are reduced.
Take for instance the seemingly innocuous term “woods” as in she went into the woods to her grandmother’s house. Often in stories woods are portrayed as dark and dangerous places with dangerous inmates such as hairy wolves. Ie you might be insulting the said area and the owner would then have a constitutional case against you. So best to avoid the insult.
Rather use some obfuscation as in a “large tree-dominated ecological area”. Or better, “a large tree-dominated ecological area”
Of course, calling an individual a wolf is also problematic. Better to call it a folicularly abundant individual of canine-based ethnicity.
Colours have become a huge problem in modern society. You obviously can’t use black and white, so you use previously disadvantaged or previously advantaged, as the case may be. But what if you happen to be red? No offense. You could call yourself partially previously advantaged.
A term which is offensive from a different point of view is the term “riding”. This has severe sexual connotations and must be avoided at all costs.
If any of you were severely emotionally abused during your formative years by that shocking children’s story, just make sure you don’t do the same to your children.
Don’t forget, it’s everyone’s constitutional right to not be insulted and their dignity impaired by your careless utterances.
Many words are offensive and often we don’t even know it. A typical example which some of you might be able to relate to is the work “fat”. Calling someone “fat “ is of course a huge no-no, particularly if that person happens to be challenged from a gender point of view. So what to do if the best adjective just happens to be “fat”? How to convey the meaning.
There are three ways that are often used:
1) Implication
This means to imply a result from an activity. So instead of using the offensive word “fat” you can rather say, “she’s a hungry individual.” Similarly, lots of other adjectives are problematic, like “thin” or “little”. Rather use implication and say she’s a low carbohydrate absorbing individual.
2) Alternative words
The second technique is a common one and involves the use of alternative adjectives which are similar in meaning to the word in question. However, you have to be very careful to not cause alternative offense. Returning to our three letter f word example, you might be tempted to say “a big person”. If that person happens to be of such a cultural persuasion that the term “big” is an insult, you have a constitutionally challenging problem which might lead to a financially challenging one. A better alternative adjective to use would be “horizontally challenged” if they’re big in that way. Same with adjectes such as “little” – vertically challenged. The third possible technique,
3) Obfuscation
This involves using diversity to your advantage. You see, diverse people often may not have such a grip on the English language as you have, so if you make use of long, complicated phrases and say them fast, the chances of offence are reduced.
Take for instance the seemingly innocuous term “woods” as in she went into the woods to her grandmother’s house. Often in stories woods are portrayed as dark and dangerous places with dangerous inmates such as hairy wolves. Ie you might be insulting the said area and the owner would then have a constitutional case against you. So best to avoid the insult.
Rather use some obfuscation as in a “large tree-dominated ecological area”. Or better, “a large tree-dominated ecological area”
Of course, calling an individual a wolf is also problematic. Better to call it a folicularly abundant individual of canine-based ethnicity.
Colours have become a huge problem in modern society. You obviously can’t use black and white, so you use previously disadvantaged or previously advantaged, as the case may be. But what if you happen to be red? No offense. You could call yourself partially previously advantaged.
A term which is offensive from a different point of view is the term “riding”. This has severe sexual connotations and must be avoided at all costs.
If any of you were severely emotionally abused during your formative years by that shocking children’s story, just make sure you don’t do the same to your children.
Don’t forget, it’s everyone’s constitutional right to not be insulted and their dignity impaired by your careless utterances.
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