Language reflects historic prejudices but can also reinforce them. Some phrases have largely passed out of use – such as the idea of ‘scotching’ someone’s plans or ‘welshing’ on a deal which can be seen to have unpleasant overtones linking to ideas about the nature of certain national groups. I’m a Northerner and am used to ‘clogs on cobbles’ and ‘down t’pit’ banter when outside of me home territory and it doesn’t generally antagonise me unless it’s coming from someone who’s clearly privileged or is implying (even in jest) that because of my regional heritage I must be lacking in brains or uncouth (neither of which is true, I’ve got a Ph.D. and I can hold me knife and fork proper.) The point is it’s about power and stereotypes. And real life: research shows that people with regional accents are less likely to be successful in job interviews and are generally paid less and taken less seriously for promotion, and whilst this may seem inconsequential to some, in my view it does matter if we are a society which is at least aiming for equality.
But I feel frustrated when this whole issue seems to get polarised – either we have to laugh it off, claim it means nothing etc or else we are seen as getting uptight and argumentative about it. I think there’s somewhere in the middle, and it’s the middle ground I’d choose to occupy – I’m not ranting about it but I do wish we would move start to away from language and ‘humour’ which derives from and can serve to reinforce prejudice. Whether a negative comment about the Irish should be categorised as ‘racist’, ‘regionalist’, ‘sectarian’ etc is to me irrelevant – it’s just not right as it derives from an unpleasant idea based on an historic imbalance of power between Britain and Ireland. It’s just not acceptable in this day and age to make jokes about the Irish which imply that they are stupid, just as it’s not acceptable to suggest that muslims are terrorists or gay people are sexually promiscuous (it’s making me uncomfortable writing this, I’m just doing so to provide examples.) And it’s certainly not acceptable to do it on national telly! Comments like this result in sackings on the Beeb and I’m sure the ASA would take a very dim view – QVC must know this.
We all say things that might offend or be inappropriate without thinking. For instance, my mum works in education with ‘wheelchair users’. Despite liking to think I’m a switched on modern liberal leftie (!) I keep forgetting that that’s the new language and keep getting corrected by mum when I describe someone as ‘in a wheelchair’ (cos it takes attention away from the human being who should be seen as someone who uses a tool rather than someone fixed into a disability. It’s the same with describing people with mental health issues or cancer as ‘sufferers’ rather than patients.) I haven’t encountered anyone who gets ratty with other individuals about things like this, it’s just about moving forward the process of society becoming more tolerant/respectful. I don’t expect everyone going about their busy, often hard lives to be putting masses of thought into this hour by hour, we’ve all got other things going on, and very few people mean harm when they say things like this, it’s just the culture around them that they’ve been immersed in (like me with the wheelchair comments – I get frustrated with myself but repeatedly do it without thinking!) I actually think when people are criticised for saying things like this they feel quite embarrassed as they know they meant no harm and their shame leads them to become dismissive about it in order to protect themselves, if you get what I mean. But I don’t think most people who want to see language changed or just thought about critically should be seen as a mad PC-brigade or ludicrously uptight and have their concerns dismissed. I think it’s simply about respect.
I’m loathe to post this in a sense as I come onto STF for a laugh and to get away from the trials and tribulations of life, but thought it was worth saying.
