Explain the concept of generic language and illustrate some alternatives to using this type of language.
What will be an ideal response?
Generic language is the most common form of sexism in language. It is evident when a person uses the masculine pronoun to refer to all people. For example, the word "fireman" is generic language. Another example would be if a professional job placement professional said to a group of students, "When you meet the head of any company, be sure to look him in the eye and say 'happy to meet you, sir.'" To avoid generic language, you should use terms that include all sexes and genders. The most grammatical way to do this is to say "she or he" or "s/he" or "she/he." You could also omit the pronoun and reward the message or use a you variation instead of the indefinite pronoun one. Another alternative is to use the plural pronoun they.
You might also like to view...
We build an image of ourselves for ourselves and others. This is also known as
A. Essentialist perspective B. Impression management C. Standpoint Theory D. Social Constructionism
Communication that is used to influence the attitudes or behaviors of others is known as _____
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word.
Some communication scholarship can trace its roots back as far as early Roman and Greek times.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)
Looking for "the right answer" may work as a block to creativity
Indicate whether the statement is true or false