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100 Politically Correct Euphemisms
Do you speak English (politically) correctly? The politically correct euphemisms below help us to avoid discriminating against other people on the grounds of: a) age, b) appearance, c) gender, d) health, e) personality, f) race, g) relationship status, h) religion, i) social status, and j) work.
Link: [Definition of political correctness]
What are some examples of political correctness? Replacing gender specific words like “ladies and gentlemen” with “everybody” and substituting more impressive job titles like “facility manager” for more basic-sounding positions like “cleaner”.
Can you categorise each phrase? For example: 1. d) There are 5 phrases (in blue) that don’t fit any category. Click the image to enlarge it:
DON’T SAY: – – – > DO SAY:
- able-bodied > non-disabled
- actress > actor
- Australian Aborigine > Native Australian
- bald > follically challenged
- barman > bar attendant
- bin man > cleanliness technician
- black bag > bin bag
- black person > Person of Colour
- black sheep > pariah
- blackboard > chalk board
- blacklisted > banned
- blind > sight impaired
- blind drunk > very drunk
- boring > differently interesting
- broken home > dysfunctional family
- brother / sister > sibling
- chairman > chair
- Christian name > first name
- Christmas > Winter Festival / Winterval
- cleaner > facility manager
- clumsy > uniquely coordinated
- confined to a wheelchair > wheelchair user
- dead > passed away / terminally unavailable
- deaf > hearing impaired
- deforestation > forest management
- diabetic > person with diabetes
- dinner lady > mealtime supervisor
- disease > disorder
- drug addict > person with a chemical dependency
- drug habit > substance use disorder
- English > British / UK citizen
- Eskimo > Inuit
- fat > overweight / big-boned
- fireman > firefighter
- forefathers > ancestors / forebears
- Frenchman > French person
- get the sack > be part of a restructuring
- guys > folks
- hairdresser > stylist
- headmaster / headmistress > director
- homeless > residentially flexible
- homosexual > same-sex
- housewife > homemaker / stay-at-home mum
- husband / wife > spouse / significant other
- idiot / class clown > behaviourally challenged
- illegal alien / illegal > undocumented worker
- Indians > Native Americans
- job losses > restructuring
- junkie > person with a drug dependency
- juvenile delinquents > children at risk
- ladies and gentlemen > everybody
- lost > geographically disorientated
- male nurse > nurse
- man in the street > average person
- man up > be brave
- manhole > maintenance hole
- mankind > humankind
- man-made > synthetic
- manpower > workforce
- men / women > people
- Merry Christmas > Happy Holidays
- midget / dwarf > little person
- minority group > numerically challenged group
- Miss / Mrs > Ms
- nut > person with a mental health condition
- Oriental > Asian
- plastic surgery > cosmetic surgery
- policeman > police officer
- poor > marginalised
- postman / mailman > postal worker / mail carrier
- prison cell > custody suite
- problem > opportunity / challenge
- promiscuous > sexually liberated
- prostitute > sex worker
- salesman > salesperson
- secretary > administrative assistant
- sex change > sex reassignment surgery (SRS)
- short > vertically challenged
- single > flying solo
- skinny / thin > (very) slim
- slum > economically deprived area
- spokesman > spokesperson
- sportsmanship > fairness
- steward / stewardess > flight attendant
- suffers from / victim of… > has… [condition]
- tax man > tax officer
- the disabled > disabled people
- the elderly / old people > senior citizens
- Third World > Developing Nations
- to lie > to misspeak / be economical with the truth
- to man sth > to operate / crew / run sth
- ugly > unconventional-looking
- unemployed > involuntarily leisured
- used (goods) > pre-owned / pre-loved
- waiter / waitress > server / waiting staff
- warehouse worker > warehouse operative
- white European > Caucasian
- woman priest > priest
- workman > worker
- wrong > differently logical
Definition of Euphemism (from Talk a Lot Intermediate Book 1):
A euphemism is a word or phrase that replaces part of a sentence which is considered offensive or taboo – i.e. that cannot be talked about in “polite” conversation.
Example:
Your elderly Aunt Agatha visits your new home. She whispers: “I just need to spend a penny, dear.”
“Spend a penny” is a euphemism for “Go to the toilet”. Therefore, you should show her where the toilet is.
When:
When you can’t mention something directly, but want other people to know that you know about it, e.g. you are aware of a secret. Or, when you want to talk about sex or another taboo subject without mentioning it directly. Similar to Politically Correct (PC) Language (below).
Definition of Politically Correct Euphemisms (from Talk a Lot Intermediate Book 1):
Politically correct language (known as PC language) consists of polite words and phrases that are used to replace potentially derogatory or insulting language, so that we can talk about something negative or controversial without causing offence. There are two kinds of politically correct language:
1. Extreme Politically Correct Language: phrases that we don’t use very often in everyday life,
because they seem too extreme or sound silly.
Example:
“My little Billy isn’t fat, he’s just big-boned.” The aim is to try to see something positive in something negative. But taken to extremes, political correctness can become a bit of a joke, and can lead people to exclaim in frustration: “It’s political correctness gone mad!”
2. Everyday Politically Correct Language: phrases that we do need to use in everyday life, to avoid offending or stigmatising other people, especially people who belong to minority groups.
Example:
“We’re planning a special lunch for senior citizens next week.” [Not for old people.] More respectful or neutral phrases replace blunter, more potentially insensitive, offensive, or alienating language. Politicians, for example, are keen to use inclusive PC language, which comes across as inclusive to as many people as possible. Another example of required politically correct language is the use of gender neutral terms, e.g. “police officer” rather than “policeman”, to reflect changes in our workforce and culture.
When:
When you don’t want to cause offence to anybody who belongs to a minority group. Or when you want to draw attention to something in a humorous or ironic way, e.g. “Tom hasn’t got a big nose. No. If anything, he is nasally gifted!”
Answers may vary. Suggested answers:
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