[nabs-l] [nfbWaTlk] class essay

[Carly Mihalakis]

At 03:24 PM 6/18

Hi, Humberto,

Do you envision a culture that only speaks in 
generalities and does not celebrate people by use 
of descriptive language? Ought there be some 
ministry of language, some policing body that 
goes around, making sure individuals don't take 
offense to a mere figure of speech? 'Seems it may 
be impossible to speak in an interesting and 
engaging manner if descriptive, specific language 
is not employed, to help do so.
Carly of Berkeley/2011, you wrote:
> > Our daughter Joanne is a linguistic 
> anthropology student and was assigned > to > do 
> a one page essay on the ways society reenforces 
> discrimination. She > could have chosen a 
> number of groups and picked one from any number 
> of > ways > that discrimination and bigotry is 
> permitted to continue. Here's what she > said 
> about language and the blind. > > Don't Turn a 
> Blind Eye on the Discrimination Against the 
> Blind > > By Joanne Gabias > > North American 
> societies are trying more and more to be > 
> accepting of disabilities. They do so by adding 
> Braille to elevator > buttons, > adding closed 
> captioning on television, and making sure there 
> are > wheelchair > accessible parking spaces. 
> These actions may alleviate discrimination to > 
> an > extent, but in everyday society, 
> discrimination is far from extinct. As we > 
> know, language creates, transmits and 
> perpetuates culture. In our society, > 
> expressions that refer to someone as being 
> naive, inattentive or stupid > all > use the 
> word blind. Discrimination against the blind 
> can only diminish > once > our language removes 
> these connotations (of being naive, inattentive 
> or > stupid) from the word blind. > > > > "What 
> are you, blind?" This statement is normal in > 
> everyday > speech in our society. No matter the 
> context, this phrase is degrading, > and > 
> indicates the person is subpar. Until this 
> expression is out of our > linguistic 
> vocabulary, it is impossible for a blind person 
> to be treated > with respect and not be cast in 
> these stereotypes of being naive, > inattentive 
> or stupid. > > > > "In the kingdom of the 
> blind, the one-eyed man is king" - > Desiderius 
> Erasmus. This famous quote, once again or 
> almost more so, shows > the blind as inferior 
> human beings. This quote implies that the blind 
> can > never achieve greatness. They will always 
> be lower than everyone else. In > fact, having 
> no sight rather than a small amount of sight is 
> more > advantageous, since having a small 
> amount of sight can be unreliable in > many > 
> situations. > > > > The English proverb "the 
> eyes are the window to the soul" > implies that 
> people whose eyes don't work, don't have souls, 
> and souls are > required to be human in our 
> culture. In other words, the blind are not > 
> human. Our society puts so much importance on 
> sight that it is difficult > for a blind person 
> to show the world they are just as able as a 
> sighted > person. > > > > The list of 
> linguistic discrimination towards blind 
> people > is abundant. Until the connection 
> between blindness and naive, inattentive > and 
> stupid is removed from our language, 
> discrimination towards the blind > will 
> continue to be transmitted and perpetuated 
> throughout our culture. > As > Mark Twain once 
> said "The difference between the right word and 
> the > almost-right word is the difference 
> between lightning and a lightning > 
> bug." > > > > > > 
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