Political correctness: Difference between revisions
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'''Political correctness''' is the avoidance of | '''Political correctness''' is the avoidance of speech that could be construed as insensitive to a certain demographic, including the changing of established language because of real or perceived connotations. The term in its current sense became common in the early 1990s.<ref>Richard Bernstein (OCT. 28, 1990), [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/28/weekinreview/ideas-trends-the-rising-hegemony-of-the-politically-correct.html?pagewanted=all "IDEAS & TRENDS; The Rising Hegemony of the Politically Correct"], ''The New York Times''</ref> | ||
The movement towards politically correct language can be traced back to the academic [[New Left]] in the United States and its focus on language and the [[humanities]] as a means of social change after the collapse of radical politics in the 1970s. {{cn}} The lever of broad-based social struggle was therefore abandoned in favor of [[idealist]] means of social change like sociolinguistics and [[critical theory]] combined with the social analysis of [[identity politics]]. {{cn}} This synthesis of identity politics with language is approaching hegemonic status within the [[liberal bourgeoisie]]s of several developed nations, such as the finance, business, advertising, and technology sectors, and has been transposed into languages like Spanish<ref>''[https://www.fundeu.es/lenguaje-inclusivo/[email protected] La x, la @, la -e.]'' ("The 'x', the '@', the '-e'".) ''Fundación del Español Urgente'' (in Spanish).</ref><ref>[https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https://elpais.com/ideas/2020-06-19/decir-negro-no-es-racismo.html ''Decir “negro” no es racismo''.] ("Saying 'Black' [''negro''] is not racism".) (in Spanish).</ref> and German<ref>''[https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000125170707/sternchen-gender-gap-oder-binnen-i-wie-gendert-mensch-richtig Sternchen, Gender-Gap oder Binnen-I: Wie gendert mensch richtig?]'' ("Asterisk, gender gap or internal 'I': What is the right way to gender?"), ''Der Standard'' (in German).</ref><ref>''[https://www.thelocal.de/20191101/from-frulein-to-the-gender-star-germanys-language-revolution From Fräulein to the gender star: Germany's language revolution.]'', thelocal.de.</ref>. | |||
== Political correctness outside the left == | == Political correctness outside the left == | ||
=== Corporate speak === | === Corporate speak === | ||
Carefully manipulated language is a hallmark of corporate publications. In order to appeal to as broad a marketable audience as possible, companies have to choose words in a way that minimises the risk of putting anyone off. | Carefully manipulated language is a hallmark of corporate publications. In order to appeal to as broad a marketable audience as possible, companies have to choose words in a way that minimises the risk of putting anyone off. | ||
=== Among reactionaries === | === Among reactionaries === | ||
Despite their seeming opposition to political correctness, the [[alt-right]] uses a lot of it. This is especially true in the words they use to identify themselves. "[[Scientific racist]]" becomes "race realist," and "[[white supremacy|white supremacist]]" becomes “ethnic nationalist” or “identitarian,” “online neo-Nazis” becomes “alternative right.” People know what the former is. They don't like it. As such, new language has to be found. | Despite their seeming opposition to political correctness, the [[alt-right]] uses a lot of it. This is especially true in the words they use to identify themselves. "[[Scientific racist]]" becomes "race realist," and "[[white supremacy|white supremacist]]" becomes “ethnic nationalist” or “identitarian,” “online neo-Nazis” becomes “alternative right.” People know what the former is. They don't like it. As such, new language has to be found. | ||
Revision as of 19:21, 16 April 2023
Political correctness is the avoidance of speech that could be construed as insensitive to a certain demographic, including the changing of established language because of real or perceived connotations. The term in its current sense became common in the early 1990s.[1]
The movement towards politically correct language can be traced back to the academic New Left in the United States and its focus on language and the humanities as a means of social change after the collapse of radical politics in the 1970s. [citation needed] The lever of broad-based social struggle was therefore abandoned in favor of idealist means of social change like sociolinguistics and critical theory combined with the social analysis of identity politics. [citation needed] This synthesis of identity politics with language is approaching hegemonic status within the liberal bourgeoisies of several developed nations, such as the finance, business, advertising, and technology sectors, and has been transposed into languages like Spanish[2][3] and German[4][5].
Political correctness outside the left
Corporate speak
Carefully manipulated language is a hallmark of corporate publications. In order to appeal to as broad a marketable audience as possible, companies have to choose words in a way that minimises the risk of putting anyone off.
Among reactionaries
Despite their seeming opposition to political correctness, the alt-right uses a lot of it. This is especially true in the words they use to identify themselves. "Scientific racist" becomes "race realist," and "white supremacist" becomes “ethnic nationalist” or “identitarian,” “online neo-Nazis” becomes “alternative right.” People know what the former is. They don't like it. As such, new language has to be found.
This effect can be enhanced by being more pedantic about the meaning of words than the average person. "Fascists" are members of the Italian Fascist Party, being a "neo-reactionary" is something entirely different. A “Nazi” is a member of the German National Socialist Workers' Party during the Weimar period, or not even that, since they never called actually themselves “Nazis.” In this way they'll try to avoid any epithet that's applied to them.
In order to seem more respectable, far-right propagandists are happy to go along with the euphemistic language of the day. For instance, instead of using their favourite racist pejorative, or simply saying "non-whites", they will likely go for the euphemism "people of colour."
Political correctness inside the left
The far-left is often seen as the main pusher of political correctness today. They are frequently stereotyped as centring their entire discourse around it.
It's important to consider the subtext of words and its implications. Simple changes in vocabulary can meaningfully reduce the day-to-day marginalisation of oppressed demographics, such non-white and LGBT people, something some leftists agree is a worthwhile goal. However, there are points at which political correctness becomes problematic.
One of these cases is when politically correct language hides oppression.
Critiques of political correctness within the left
As a right-wing buzzword
References
- ↑ Richard Bernstein (OCT. 28, 1990), "IDEAS & TRENDS; The Rising Hegemony of the Politically Correct", The New York Times
- ↑ La x, la @, la -e. ("The 'x', the '@', the '-e'".) Fundación del Español Urgente (in Spanish).
- ↑ Decir “negro” no es racismo. ("Saying 'Black' [negro] is not racism".) (in Spanish).
- ↑ Sternchen, Gender-Gap oder Binnen-I: Wie gendert mensch richtig? ("Asterisk, gender gap or internal 'I': What is the right way to gender?"), Der Standard (in German).
- ↑ From Fräulein to the gender star: Germany's language revolution., thelocal.de.