The power of language often goes unnoticed in our daily lives, especially in casual conversations with our friends and family. Unfortunately, many words and phrases commonly used in colloquial exchanges carry harmful histories, ranging from the racial to the ableist. For instance, using the words “dumb” or “lame” perpetuates discrimination against people with disabilities, as they have historically been used to degrade them. In order to create a more welcoming society, we must move toward adopting more inclusive language, especially with such a wide variety of words from the dictionary to choose from.
To begin, the Oxford Dictionary defines ableism as any discrimination against a person with disabilities in favor of able-bodied people. Similar to any other form of prejudice, ableism operates on the superiority complexes of able-bodied people believing they are more worthy than others. Ableist attitudes manifest themselves in stereotypes, microaggressions, and targeted legislation, all of which are still prevalent in our society today.
For instance, the word “dumb” has historically described people unable to speak or people who struggle with communicating. Originating from German, “dumm” was synonymous with stupidity; it was not until later when “dumbs” came to mean mute. Even centuries ago, people associated people with disabilities as unworthy or inferior simply due to biological or genetic differences. The word’s usage today still refers to someone lacking intelligence, only perpetuating this stereotype that one with a disability is unable to genuinely be smart. Similarly, “lame” has always been used to refer to one who has difficulty walking, either from an accident or birth. Today, “lame” describes anything uninteresting or inferior—once again furthering the harmful stereotype that people with disabilities are unworthy of even being referred to with inclusive language.
Unfortunately, most people are unaware of the backgrounds of common words such as “lame” or “dumb,” hindering their removal from our vocabulary. Whether consciously or not, however, individuals using these words continue to stigmatize disabilities. Rather than accepting the differences we all hold, we continue to “other” people different from us, keeping us closed-minded.
This casual usage of ableist language continues to build an environment where disabled individuals are unappreciated and marginalized, reinforcing the notion that disabilities are undesirable or something to be ashamed of. While society continues to grow more aware of historical discrimination against people with disabilities, we still have a long way to go. Although people with disabilities are no longer prohibited from riding the same public transport, attending public schools, or being treated as animals simply due to their disabilities, able-bodied people still attempt to separate themselves from. While we as a society cannot erase the past, we can forge the way to an equitable society open to all, disabled or able.
Promoting inclusive language requires effort on the macro scale in order to raise awareness about the negative connotations of certain words. Rather than using “dumb,” we might say lacking intelligence or unwise. Instead of using the word “lame,” one might say something is uninteresting or uninspiring. As our main form of communication, language has more power to control the narrative than individuals realize. We have the ability to either uplift or oppress marginalized communities with the words we choose to use. By encouraging more inclusive language, we are one step closer to creating a welcoming environment where everyone is not only comfortable but also valued.
