Recently Frank Bruni wrote a thoughtful opinion article for The New York Times called “Stop It With ‘Gun Control’. Enough Already”. Its subtitle was “Language matters. This language doesn’t help.”
He considered “Gun Control” as “an example of the loaded language that often shapes our discourse on important matters.”
His point was that “how we write and talk about any issue that engenders passionate disagreement” is “inevitably consequential”. Although his main example was the difference between speaking of Gun Control vs. Gun Safety, he gave a few other examples of what he considered loaded language:
– Illegal Aliens vs. Undocumented Aliens.
– Pro Life vs. Pro Choice.
– Gay Marriage vs. Marriage Equality.
Sometimes, although we may not realize it, we may be using religious, theological, and canonical language that is loaded also.
Maybe once upon a time, the language may have been perfectly respectable and clear, but as times change, customs change, and words change, the same language can become “loaded” in the sense of engendering passionate disagreement.
At present, there is disagreement about translations of the Bible, especially whether they are discriminatory.
For example, translating St. Paul’s opening words on the Areopagus: Traditional translations usually use “Men of Athens” whether it was an all-male audience or not. But some modern translations, presuming it was a mixed audience, use “Athenians”.
In any case, for us, nowadays, “Men” usually means just adult males.
With the changing usage of words, sometimes we find that the word we need doesn’t exist. For example, we shouldn’t apply exclusively masculine or feminine words to describe the Creator. But, we don’t have any good alternatives for using “he”, “him”, or “his” when referring to God.
Sometime there are solutions. We can use “brothers and sisters” instead of just “brothers” if a message is directed to everyone, not just to men.
Translations are not the only challenges regarding using words that have evolved and changed in meaning or usage.
People were once identified as black, brown, red, white, or yellow—a very racist mentality. Now a popular usage is “people of color” for everyone who is not “white”. It’s really no less racist an expression, although it’s meant to be not racist at all!
Race is a word that implies a different species—and there is only one human species.
We refer to LGBTQ people meaning everyone who is not . . . heterosexual? normal? not-different? We don’t have an good opposite word in this and many cases.
The obvious opposite of “Pro Life” is “Pro Death”. The opposite of “Pro Choice” is something like “Pro No-Choice”.
If one’s definition of marriage involves two people intending procreating children, then it’s difficult to consider a same-sex relationship as a marriage. But, anybody can be a partner with anybody else in a civil union, which doesn’t imply procreation.
The Order of the Holy Sepulchre includes men and women. What to call the women members? In English usage (England that is) a title of distinction for a woman is “Dame”. But, in some places (U.S. for example), “Dame” sounds like slang and “Lady” sounds better. However, any woman can be called a lady; it’s not an honorific title at all.
“Words, words, words.” Be very careful how you use them, especially the loaded ones!
11 April 2021