Language is organic. It develops bottom up. Today's slang becomes tomorrow's accepted usage. Its legitimacy is in its small-D democratic adoption, as it reflects changes in our culture. Its success lies in its inclusivity.
The top-down imposition of politically correct terminology )and, in today's online world, acronyms) is the opposite. It's imposed, top down. And it rarely reflects our, ahem, "lived" experience. (Okay, "lived experience" is just jargon, I can live with that.) It is an attempt to change how we think by changing how we speak. But it has the opposite effect. That's why it alienates and sounds to many that they are being manipulated by an elite. Yes, we need to draw hard lines around hate speech, but the mandated use of so-called correct terminology (like Latinx) excludes, rather than includes. Or if it includes, it does so as a shibboleth, signaling acceptance to some and rejection to others.
Another one of these is the ongoing extension of letters to what started as LGBT. Anyone not active in that community or highly connected knows what the letters stand for or what term should be used. I can't even imagine how it goes down in rural America. Same with the overuse by people introducing themselves with what gender pronouns they prefer. Yes it is important to some people. No everyone does not need or desire to know. Outside of certain liberal circles, meetings do not begin with everyone identifying their gender identity. Try that one in John Day Oregon.
Language is organic. It develops bottom up. Today's slang becomes tomorrow's accepted usage. Its legitimacy is in its small-D democratic adoption, as it reflects changes in our culture. Its success lies in its inclusivity.
The top-down imposition of politically correct terminology )and, in today's online world, acronyms) is the opposite. It's imposed, top down. And it rarely reflects our, ahem, "lived" experience. (Okay, "lived experience" is just jargon, I can live with that.) It is an attempt to change how we think by changing how we speak. But it has the opposite effect. That's why it alienates and sounds to many that they are being manipulated by an elite. Yes, we need to draw hard lines around hate speech, but the mandated use of so-called correct terminology (like Latinx) excludes, rather than includes. Or if it includes, it does so as a shibboleth, signaling acceptance to some and rejection to others.
Another one of these is the ongoing extension of letters to what started as LGBT. Anyone not active in that community or highly connected knows what the letters stand for or what term should be used. I can't even imagine how it goes down in rural America. Same with the overuse by people introducing themselves with what gender pronouns they prefer. Yes it is important to some people. No everyone does not need or desire to know. Outside of certain liberal circles, meetings do not begin with everyone identifying their gender identity. Try that one in John Day Oregon.
Nice piece. Actions not words.