The Language of Diversity: A linguist’s perspective

Anna Marie Trester

Georgetown University

Ideology is linguistically moderated

power and worldview are produced and reproduced through language

language can embed a prejudicial perspective

while most often this occurs below the level of conscious awareness, that is not to say that it is not powerful or potentially damaging

E.g. “girls” to refer to women in support staff

Linguistics

The scientific study of language

Helps to expose underlying assumptions embedded in language

Based on an understanding that language ALWAYS evolving / changing

Difference does not equal deficiency

Some linguistic changes in talking about diversity

From: Affirmative Action, Diversity

TO: Inclusion

From: Tolerance and Sensitivity

TO: Crosscultural Competence

From: American Ethnocentrism

TO: Developing World Cultural awareness

Framing (George Lakoff)

language always comes with what is called "framing."

Every word is defined relative to a conceptual framework.

Framing defines the problem in its own way and hence constrains the solutions needed to address that problem (i.e “tax relief”)

“Illegal aliens” / “Illegals” Dehumanizes

Stresses criminality and otherness

“Illegal” evokes a frame of criminality– Imagine calling speeders “illegal drivers”

“Alien” evokes non-human beings invading, foreign

The illegal frame “blocks” questions like: – why people coming to US– what services they provide while here– why they feel it necessary to avoid legal channels.

Why do the work of examining language choice? (Castania 2003) We chose to use words that convey

sensitivity and understanding not because we want to be “correct” but because how we use words affects people – their concept of themselves and members of their group and the ability to create and maintain authentic relationships across differences.

[terms] allow us acknowledge, speak about, and deal with the outcomes of racial and color divisions of the past and present, while moving toward a more genuine partnership in future.