Political correctness or political (PC) is a term used by some conservatives to describe the attitude or policy of being careful not to offend or upset any group of people in society who are believed to have a disadvantage.
Sometimes political correctness goes to such extremes to avoid hurting
others’ feelings that it verges on the ridiculous, creating expressions that
are extremely convoluted.
EXERCISE 1:
Can you match the PC expressions on the left with their transactions on the
right?
(A)
|
charm-free
|
bald
|
|
(B)
|
nontraditionally ordered
|
old
|
|
(C)
|
chronologically gifted
|
tall
|
|
(D)
|
cosmetically different
|
boring
|
|
(E)
|
hair disadvantaged
|
disorganized
|
|
(F)
|
vertically inconvenienced
|
stupid
|
|
(G)
|
Mentally challenged
|
ugly
|
EXERCISE 2:
Some expressions introduced for PC reasons, have become part of standard
English now. Which do you think is the more PC expression in each case.
(A) An unmarried mother or single parent.
B) Children with special needs or educationally subnormal
children.
(C) A housewife or a homemaker.
(D) Third World countries or developing countries.
(E) A refuse collector or a dustman.
(F) A fireman or a firefighter.
(G) African-American or Black American.
(H) Hearing-impaired or deaf.
(I) Slum or substandard housing.
ANSWERS:
EXERCISE 1:
(A)
|
charm-free
|
(e)
|
bald
|
(B)
|
nontraditionally ordered
|
(c)
|
old
|
(C)
|
chronologically gifted
|
(f)
|
tall
|
(D)
|
cosmetically different
|
(a)
|
boring
|
(E)
|
hair disadvantaged
|
(b)
|
disorganized
|
(F)
|
vertically inconvenienced
|
(g)
|
stupid
|
(G)
|
Mentally challenged
|
(d)
|
ugly
|
EXERCISE 2:
(A) An unmarried mother or single parent.
(B) Children
with special needs or
educationally subnormal children.
(C) A housewife or a homemaker.
(D) Third World countries or developing countries.
(E) A refuse
collector or a dustman.
(F) A fireman or a firefighter.
(G) African-American or Black American.
(H) Hearing-impaired or deaf.
(I) Slum or substandard
housing.
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