Should communicators work to eradicate offensive speech?
Communicators are lovers of language—which makes them the perfect advocates for civility and careful word choice. Here’s why you should speak up.
As communications professionals, we love language and generally have a marvelous way with words.
This helps us understand when not to use particular words and phrases.
As a deaf PR professional, I’m already hyper-aware of the use of language around disability. However, I was still shocked to discover the “H” word on the Cision UK website was a searchable category within their latest news function.
“Handicapped” is not an acceptable word to use in relation to persons with disabilities. This has been true in the UK for many years now.
So why is it on such a high-profile website like Cision?
Is the “H” word really still in use?
To make sure I wasn’t alone in my offensive language outrage (spoiler alert: I wasn’t), I turned to the Spin Sucks community, and my Twitter network. I sought their help to try and establish how widespread, or not, the use of this word is.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
