The University of Washington has published a language guide with a list of “problematic” words. The information technology department at the university has assembled a list of 85 terms. However, the words in the list consist of four groups. It includes race, disability, age, and sexual orientation. Every term that the university deems offensive has a substitute suggested by the university. According to the University’s Department of Information Technology, the word “lame” is “ableist.”
“The word is offensive. Even though it’s usage in slang terms to mean uncool because it uses disability in a negative way to imply the opposite, which wouldn’t be lame, would be superior,” the guidelines said. “It’s imperative that we remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and one place to start is how we communicate to those who visit our websites,” UW said.
The use of colour-labels is offensive
The listed phrases include words that are racist, sexist, ageist, ableist, homophobic, or in any way non-inclusive. On the university’s website and promotional materials, words including ninja, guru, cakewalk, crazy, lame, and grandfather will no longer come into use. For example, the word “crazy” was once used to define someone suffering from a mental disease. The university proposes using synonyms for crazy including confusing, baffling, disoriented, wild, and silly.
“Grandfather” is an inappropriate word, according to the guidance. Because of the imposition as a manner of vindicating some people from rectifying a preexisting condition. The use of racist-based color-labels white is good, black is evil, red and yellow is offensive. In a conscious attempt to respect their community, the University of Washington has produced its own contentious word guide. Last year, Brandeis University in Massachusetts issued a warning to students and faculty against the use of allegedly racist or sexist words.
Aside from phrases like policeman and rule of thumb, the institution also outlawed the use of the word picnic. Which has a correlation to lynchings of African-Americans. And instead suggested the phrase outdoor eating. Non-sexist language standards were acquitted by the University of Pittsburgh. Using terms such as “ladies and gentlemen” instead of colleagues, guests, and students.