Disadvantaged or disadvanced?

Question

I am German and am trying to figure out the difference between =BBdisadvantaged=AB and =BBdisadvanced=AB. In political and social sciences context I am used to seeing the term =BBdisadvantaged=AB, such as in =BBthe poor and disadvantaged=AB.
Recently though, the term =BBdisadvanced=AB keeps coming up in research papers, such as =BBdisadvanced groups and families=AB. Googling it, I found 736 usages. I am not sure if all these finding represent correct use of language; many posts seem to use the two terms on a first come, first served basis, with no difference in meaning whatsoever, and unfortunately many of the texts/posts using =BBdisadvanced=AB are European and some are seemingly a bit weak on language, anyway.

Can you help me out here?
1) Is any of the two terms (more) condescending/patronizing?
2) I have a feeling that =BBdisadvanced=AB also refers to mental orphysical problems, not just socio-economical ones. Is that so?
3) Is there a =BBpolitical correctness=AB thing about the two terms?
4) Which of the two terms is correct when speaking about juveniles andfamilies with a troubled background?

5) Is there an alternative/better word?

Thanx for any enlightenment on the matter.
Cat

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I am German and am trying to figure out the difference between »disadvantaged« and »disadvanced«. In political and social sciences ... poor and disadvantaged«. Recently though, the term »disadvanced« keeps coming up in research papers, such as »disadvanced groups and families«.[/nq]
They're both in use as terms of art in the wonderful world of sociology. 'disadvanced' has the longer pedigree and can be traced back to Chaucer and Spenser but hadn't been used in anything that caught the attention of the OED for a couple of hundred years. I suspect it's part of the process where a word (in this case 'disadvantaged') has either attracted a stigma among those who are wont to use it or has become the subject of disagreements over definition. As a consequence, someone has found a new word to use where the old one would have gone. It will gradually replace it until it, too, is the subject of controversy and is itself replaced. If I could find the market, I'd sell 'disadventured' short and expect to make my profit in 20 or 30 years time.

John Dean
Oxford

Disadvantaged or disadvanced?

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