A way to correct our language

• Source: Global Times
• [09:32 September 08 2010]
• Comments

By Ginger wRong Chen

"Little people" instead of "midget," "big-boned" instead of "fat," "mentally disabled" in place of "retarded"... some Chinese in Shanghai have started revamping their vocabularies in regard to race, gender, and disabilities. After spending enough time around expats who are sensitive to political correctness, some Chinese are now feeling pressured to choose the right term to avoid looking backward and prejudiced.

Political correctness is an import from the West. Basically, it is about choosing the least offensive word possible to describe people who have often been labeled with rude or offensive terms. To put it simply, it is just a way being nicer.

Chinese people have their own euphemisms. Instead of saying someone died, they say he changmian, or "went to sleep forever." If someone is dull, a Chinese might describe him as honest and trustworthy. Referring to a less-than-attractive girl, Chinese might say she will make a good wife.

There is a difference in how each culture views euphemistic speech, however. Chinese think of it as way of taking some of the harshness out of language, whereas Westerners see it as a way being as neutral as possible, so as not to offend women, racial minorities, and other groups that are still fighting for equal treatment.

That's why in a country with a rich culture of euphemism, some of the more linguistically sensitive expats often find themselves exclaiming in shock, "How can you say that? That's so wrong!" 

It is easy to find people here being wrong, and by that I mean politically incorrect. Some "wrong" terms have become so common that people don't see the insulting connotation, which can be quite offensive if you read into it. Take "physically disabled" as an example. In Chinese, the word canfei had been commonly used until about 10 years ago. It literally means incomplete and good-for-nothing. Disrespectful, isn't it? The disabled are definitely not "good-for-nothing."

The word has been replaced in common usage with canji, which means disabled.

Nonetheless, people who have used terms like canfei are probably unaware of how offensiveness the word sounds and may even admire the achievements of some disabled people.

But here is my question: How much of what people say represents what they actually think? When a person puts "she" after every "he" when using the third-person singular, does it really mean he/she sees women and men as equals? Or is his attitude simply better disguised?

If someone has something against me, I would prefer to hear it straight up, rather than having to guess what's behind these characterless phrases. I don't care if people refer to me as yellow or Asian, woman or female. I am who I am.

As far as language is concerned, I think being natural is more important than being neutral. Otherwise, we will eventually end up with a bunch of untrustworthy, yet still dull expressions.