Concerning Euphemisms

brianlux

Euphemisms often share borders with political correctness, prejudice, bias etc., so I had a bit of a time coming up with a subject heading for this thread but what I'm curious about is others' takes on specific euphemistic language and other examples some may have concern for or question regarding. Personally, I have little patience for euphemistic language but I also generally try to not step on others toes.

What brought this up is that someone I know is taking education classes in college and she was told not to use the word "stuttering", that it's wrong to do so, but rather one should use the technical (euphemistic) term. I couldn't recall what the term is and could not find it searching on line yet I found "stuttering" in all kinds of medical references. I'm sure given enough time I could find that technical term (it was several words) but if it didn't come up fairly quickly searching on line I don't see how it can be that pressing an issue.

But maybe I'm wrong? I'd like to know.

I'm also curious about others' thoughts here concerning other euphemistic phrases.

RKCNDY

Speech impediment ? Is that what you are looking for?

ldent42

Is it like how you're not supposed to say "midget" or "oriental" anymore? Is that what you mean?

I'll admit there's a few that caught me off guard.

Malroth

https://youtu.be/u-BfQ7hJ6Po?t=3
When I think euphemism I think "whose line is it anyway"

brianlux

RKCNDY said:

Speech impediment ? Is that what you are looking for?

No- much longer and technical sounding. I'll ask her later today. It just seemed odd to me that she would be chastised for using the term "stuttering". She was also told not to use the term "acting out". The same instructor tells here that kids who "act out" (or whatever the technical euphemistic term is now) that they and there parents are not responsible for that happening because it is a syndrome or medical condition.

HesCalledDyer

Alalia literalis?

And acting out is not a fucking medical condition, sorry. It's a behavorial condition from the parents not teaching their kids to not act like little bratty assholes. It's amazing what the med industry will come up with to try to sell more drugs to people who don't need them.

PJ_Soul

I would say that the person you were talking to should not listen to whoever told her that she shouldn't use the word "stuttering", lol.

dankind

There's that moment in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf when Honey needs to go to the bathroom but can't bring herself to say the word "bathroom," so George says, "Martha, won't you show her where we keep the ... euphemism?"

Such a great play.

Who Princess

PJ_Soul said:

I would say that the person you were talking to should not listen to whoever told her that she shouldn't use the word "stuttering", lol.

Agreed. I'm no expert on behavior so I don't know if terminology's changed, but I do know that everybody who goes to school has a few instructors that are know it all jerks.

dankind

http://youtu.be/vuEQixrBKCc

amethgr8

What class is she taking, maybe they are trying to teach subtleness.
Back in the old days, being different was not a good thing. If a person had a speech impediment they just didn't talk much and if they did, the terms people used to describe the condition took on a derogatory tone. Kind of a society evolution thing.

brianlux

amethgr8 said:

What class is she taking, maybe they are trying to teach subtleness.
Back in the old days, being different was not a good thing. If a person had a speech impediment they just didn't talk much and if they did, the terms people used to describe the condition took on a derogatory tone. Kind of a society evolution thing.

She's enrolled in an on-line college (which to my way of thinking is almost an oxymoron) with the intent on getting a teaching degree. The degree requires a course focusing on Special Education. I'd be the first to stand up for anyone with a disability (or whatever the hell that is called now- it's OK, I'm partially disabled) but I have a real hard time with euphemistic language that softens the reality. Part of my hearing disability includes phonophobia as a sub-type of PTSD AKA SHELL SHOCK! (Thank you, Mr. Carlin). This soft language is too often used to brush away the reality of a situation rather than face and acknowledge it and maybe find honest help for the afflicted (or are we supposed to say "blessed"? God, I get cranky over this stuff!). And Carlin really did say it best so I won't try to top that. But it is my opinion as well.

Anyway, I don't think using this soft language will make this young woman a better teacher and she knows that (and also knows she must learn the lingo or fail the coursework) and I'm proud of her for knowing the difference.

And I want to add that I'm not brazen about all this. I always go out of my way to express empathy and concern for anyone with a... whatever you want to call it.