Political Correctness and Language Manipulation: Swearing

This article discusses the impact of political correctness on language use and its role in creating a new social reality. It examines the debate on whether people should use terms that are considered generics and how nonsexist language helps to create a new social setting where people see each other as equals. The article also explores the negative impact of political correctness on freedom of speech and the society's ability to confront difficult issues.

Running head: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND LANGUAGE MANIPULATION 1
Political Correctness and Language Manipulation
Student’s Name
Institution

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Political Correctness and Language Manipulation: Swearing
Political correctness strives to change language use so as to create a new social reality.
"Political correctness is language intervention: it is an attempt to artificially manipulate language
use for a social goal" (Hale & Basides, 2013. p. 77). Opinion is sharply divided whether it
achieves this social goal. Proponents of political correctness consider that it plays a significant
role in creating a new social order by preventing swearing on the basis of sexual orientation,
gender and race. Critics, on the other hand, hold that political correctness has an adverse effect
on the freedom of speech as it hinders people to express their feelings and thoughts as they
would wish. Additionally, they are concerned that rendering certain words are taboo does not
necessarily stop people from thinking as they please. These views cannot be ignored, but given
that the positive impact of political correctness overrides the objections, it achieves its social
goal.
Current trends in the use of sexist language show that the use of political language is
necessary for preventing swearing According to Kleinman (2002), the debate on whether people
should use terms that are considered generics such as freshman, postman, and chairman show
that political correctness plays a critical role in creating a world in which that everybody would
want to live. The expert notes, for example, which some women currently prefer to be referred to
as ‘guys’. However, almost all men are not ready to be called girls or women, which reinforces
the fact that the culture considers men as stronger than women and everyone wants to be
identified to be strong. Therefore, the use of nonsexist language such as ‘chair’ instead of
chairman or ‘Ms.’ rather than ‘Mrs.’ Or ‘Miss.’ helps to create a new social setting where people
see each other as equals.

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On the other hand, political correctness could be seen as a concept that helps the society
to dismiss issues that are too hard or inconvenient. Ireland (2016) says that the term has been
blamed for everything for creating a breeding ground for terrorism to ruining the Oscars. Further,
Australia is at risk of losing its informality and directness in addressing issues and due to
political correctness, and politicians and the locals would hate to see that happen. As such,
political correctness could aid evils to happen in the society as no one is willing to confront the
issues or call them what they are.
People recognize the significance of using appropriate language, and that, however, is a
positive thing. Politicians learn to avoid using terms such as ‘witch’ to paint their opponents in a
bad light (Ireland, 2016; Rahman, 2011). Besides, women are happier when they are able to go
about their work without being ridiculed by their male colleagues. Therefore, political
correctness helps to give everyone an opportunity to share their views and lead a peaceful life.
Hate speech harms people, and any means that can be useful for preventing it should be
welcome in the society. It causes psychological and physiological symptoms such as
nightmares, intrusive thoughts, fear, panic, and anxiety. Studies have shown that if the friends of
the victim witnessed the incident, harm can be exacerbated (Jay, 2009). Political correctness
could help avoid many instances of hate speech, which makes it a useful tool for achieving the
social objective.
Some critics still hold that all human beings are fascists, and that gives everyone the right
to offend, but not the right to be offended. Farrelly (2015) thinks it is wrong, for example, for
Pope Francis to tell his followers to stop making fun of other people’s faith. The expert is also
concerned that children are taught in school not to bully or be racists. However, they are also
taught that equality requires everyone who takes part in a competition to get a prize, that for

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harmony to exists, there must be universal consensus, and that fairness makes the offence of an
individual the blame of another person. Farrelly is concerned, nevertheless, that schoolchildren
are not taught how to parse the mind mash, which has made children insist to view describing a
person a black or Chinese as racism. They also consider making a joke involving a lesbian
homophobic. The author views the failure to recognize the neutrality in the descriptions to be
responsible for the misdefinition of prejudice. Donald Trump, for example, has had a history of
making politically incorrect statements. According to Tumulty (2015), that has become his
brand, and polls indicated that a significant number of voters preferred him. Political correctness
may, therefore, have no place in the world if all people are fascists, and there is no remedy to this
human condition.
When political correctness attempts to change language use, it achieves its goal of
creating a new social reality. Political correctness ensures people see each other as equals and
everyone has an opportunity to share their views. Besides, it promotes social harmony. However,
political correctness allows the society to dismiss issues that it is not ready to handle and might
be difficult to manage if people are fascists by nature. The positive impact of political
correctness overrides the objections, and it ultimately achieves the objective of creating a new
social reality.

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References
Farrelly, E. (2015, January 21). We all have our inner fascist: Why it's important to have the
right to offend. The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.
au/comment/we-all-have-our-inner-fascist-why-its-important-to-have-the-right-to-
defend-20150121-12upiq.html
Hale, A., & Basides, H. (2013). The keys to academic English. Melbourne: Palgrave Macmillan.
P. 77.
Ireland, J. (2016, January 28). Political correctness: A great term to dismiss issues that become
too hard or inconvenient. The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved from
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/political-correctness-8211-a-
great-term-to-dismiss-issues-that-become-too-or-inconvenient-20160128-gmflgo.html
Jay, T. (2009). Do offensive words harm people? Psychology, Public Policy, and Law,15(2), 81-
101. doi:10.1037/a0015646
Kleinman, S. (2002). Why sexist language matters. Qualitative Social,25(2), 299-304.
Rahman, J. (2011). The N word: Its history and use in the African American Community.
Journal of English Linguistics,40(2), 137-171. doi:10.1177/0075424211414807
Tumulty, K. (2015, August 10). Donald Trump's history of flippant misogyny becomes part of
his brand. The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved from
http:www.smh.com.au./world/donald-trumps-history-of-flippant-misogyny-becomes-
part-of-his-brand-20150809-giv7k.html

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