Adapting Your Language Style to Diverse Listeners 12.3 243
Use Respectful Language
Shortly after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, U.S. Vice President Dick
Cheney made remarks in which he referred to Pakistanis as “Paks.” Although
he was speaking admiringly of the Pakistani people, he was chided for his
use of the term. The variation Paki is considered a slur, and Pak is only slightly
less offensive. Columnist William Safire remarked, “Cheney probably picked up
Paks in his Pentagon days, but innocent intent is an excuse only once; now he is
sensitized, as are we all.”^11
A speaker whose language defames any subgroup—people of particular
ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds or sexual orientations; women; or
people with disabilities—or whose language might be otherwise considered
offensive or risqué is not only speaking unethically but also running a great risk
of antagonizing audience members. In fact, one study suggests that derogatory
language used to describe people with disabilities adversely affects an audi
ence’s perceptions of the speaker’s persuasiveness, competence, trustworthi
ness, and sociability.^12
Use Unbiased Language
Even speakers who would never dream of using overtly offensive language may
find it difficult to avoid language that more subtly stereotypes or discriminates.
Sexist language falls largely into this second category. The How To box tells you
how you can avoid some common sources of subtly sexist language.
It is not always easy to avoid biased language. Even with good intentions
and deliberate forethought, you can find yourself at times caught in a double
Avoid Sexist Language
• Update outdated uses of masculine pronouns to refer to people of unspecified gender.
Avoid sentences such as “Everyone should bring his book to class tomorrow.” Instead,
mention two genders (“Everyone should bring his or her book to class tomorrow”), or use a
gender-neutral plural pronoun (“All students should bring their books to class tomorrow”).
• Monitor your use of nouns. Instead of masculine terms such as waiter, chairman, fireman,
and Congressman, choose such gender-neutral alternatives as server, chair, firefighter, and
member of Congress.
• Use parallel forms. It is patronizing to mention the title of only one member of a group or cou-
ple, as in the sentence “President Barack Obama and Michelle have two daughters.” To treat
people equally, you can use the titles of both people: “President and Mrs. Obama have two
daughters.” You may also be able to use neither title: “Barack and Michelle Obama have two
daughters.”
• Do not perpetuate stereotypes. Saying, for example, “The male nurse took good care of his
patients” implies that nursing is a typically female profession. You can clarify the sex of the
nurse without the stereotype by simply saying, “The nurse took good care of his patients.”How To