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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Blind/deaf
Hi,
In some languages, sooner or later, there evolve euphemisms for people who live with one (or more) of their senses missing. Could you, please, let me know if I can use the adjectives and nouns ’’deaf/the deaf” and ’’blind/the blind” freely in English without offending someone? Thank you : )
In some languages, sooner or later, there evolve euphemisms for people who live with one (or more) of their senses missing. Could you, please, let me know if I can use the adjectives and nouns ’’deaf/the deaf” and ’’blind/the blind” freely in English without offending someone? Thank you : )
Top answer
It's a risky business these days. Political correctness is thriving. People are busily creating new terms which turn every handicap into an asset.
- It's a risky business these days.
- Political correctness is thriving.
- People are busily creating new terms which turn every handicap into an asset.
- Millions are spent trying to figure out how to avoid offending anyone.
- What was acceptable yesterday may be illegal today.
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8 Answers
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It's a risky business these days.
Political correctness is thriving. People are busily creating new terms which turn every handicap into an asset. Millions are spent trying to figure out how to avoid offending anyone. What was acceptable yesterday may be illegal today.
Political correctness is thriving. People are busily creating new terms which turn every handicap into an asset. Millions are spent trying to figure out how to avoid offending anyone. What was acceptable yesterday may be illegal today.
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Thank you, Avangi, I appreciate your insight, but what should I do now that I have to refer to them somehow? How can I be politically correct?
I did look the terms up in a thesaurus; as for deaf, I find without hearing offensive and imprecise, because I think (at least some of) the deaf do have inner hearing. Deafened - imprecise, not all-inclusive... Earless - foolis
I did look the terms up in a thesaurus; as for deaf, I find without hearing offensive and imprecise, because I think (at least some of) the deaf do have inner hearing. Deafened - imprecise, not all-inclusive... Earless - foolis
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There's special telephone service for "the hearing-impared." This is okay if it's written, but I wouldn't say to someone, "Are you hearing-impared?"
Personally, I would ask, "Do you have trouble hearing?" That way I'm not "labeling" the person, as I would be with "Are you deaf?"; "Are you hard of hearing?"; "Are you hearing-impared?"
I'm sure there are sites designed to serve t
Personally, I would ask, "Do you have trouble hearing?" That way I'm not "labeling" the person, as I would be with "Are you deaf?"; "Are you hard of hearing?"; "Are you hearing-impared?"
I'm sure there are sites designed to serve t
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Thank you, Avangi! It is in writing that I will have to use words for deaf/the deaf and blind/the blind, but the words they use on their websites will be okay in writing, too, I believe...
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I haven't yet found their web sites, but other people have agreed with "Do you have difficulty/trouble hearing?"
Could you give us a sample sentence which you propose to write?
Could you give us a sample sentence which you propose to write?
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Yes, for example,
‘’The hearing of the blind is more refined than most people's.’’
(I hope the structure is correct.)
‘’The hearing of the blind is more refined than most people's.’’
(I hope the structure is correct.)
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