On the Offensive: Prejudice in Language Past and Present

Description

I'm not a racist, but... You look good, for your age... She was asking for it... You're crazy... That's so gay... Have you ever wondered why certain language has the power to offend? It is often difficult to recognize the veiled racism, sexism, ageism (and other -isms) that hide in our everyday discourse. This book sheds light on the derogatory phrases, insults, slurs, stereotypes, tropes and more that make up linguistic discrimination. Each chapter addresses a different area of prejudice: race and ethnicity; gender identity; sexuality; religion; health and disability; physical appearance; and age. Drawing on hot button topics and real-life case studies, and delving into the history of offensive terms, a vivid picture of modern discrimination in language emerges. By identifying offensive language, both overt and hidden, past and present, we uncover vast amounts about our own attitudes, beliefs and values and reveal exactly how and why words can offend.

Karen Stollznow is an Australian-American linguist and author. She is a Researcher at the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research and was formerly a Research Associate at the University of California, Berkeley. Her books include Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic (2014), Would You Believe It? (2017) and God Bless America (2013). Karen is a host of the popular science podcast Monster Talk.

'I don't think there is any more difficult topic in present-day language study than the vocabulary of offence. Karen Stollznow has done us all a great service in bringing together the largest collection of usages I have ever seen, in all the main areas of linguistic prejudice, and treating them in an enlightened, informative, and sensitive manner. It will help anyone who has ever offended others or been offended by a use of language - which means all of us.' David Crystal, University of Wales, Bangor 'The strength of the book is its comprehensiveness: it covers terms from history, current affairs, literature, public policy, advertising, and popular culture, and includes brief etymological notes... will be of immense value to scholars studying offensive language, both as a baseline for research and a source of ideas to be explored further ... Highly Recommended.' E. L. Battistella, Choice '... an accessible read for a broad audience in a wide range of settings. The book is intended for use in professional settings such as workplaces and schools as well as in social settings like within families and communities.' Dominique Branson, Language in Society