Abstract
This paper addresses the ways in which our everyday usage of the common phrase “people of color” perpetuates a basic inequality in language use. A suggestion to eliminate inequality in teaching is proposed.
Highlights
The role of language in shaping behavior has had a long standing place in Linguistics, and Social Science, generally (Whorf, 1941)
Moore (2006) has documented how racism is built into the English language through obvious bigotry, ethnocentrism, and loaded words
We examine the everyday, taken for granted, phrases: “People of Color” and “White people” as they shape our understanding of race relations in America
Summary
The role of language in shaping behavior has had a long standing place in Linguistics, and Social Science, generally (Whorf, 1941). How language, including metaphors (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980), creates, modifies and amends reality is probably part of the basic teaching in most Social Psychology classes (Obrien, 2011) They are powerful in shaping and maintaining perceptions of reality as well as shaping thought and behavior. In a recent set of remarkable studies, Chen (2013) found that languages that are futureless in contrast to languages that use references to past, present and future have significant impact on the actions of native speakers When we say it will rain, we do not mean it is raining or rained yesterday. Moore (2006) has documented how racism is built into the English language through obvious bigotry, ethnocentrism, and loaded words He cites books and movies that depict the English spoken by whites as being superior to that spoke by Asians, Native Americans, and Chicanos. We examine the everyday, taken for granted, phrases: “People of Color” and “White people” as they shape our understanding of race relations in America
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