Lesson 3: Purposive Communication

GLOBALIZATION

Subtopics: Culturally Sensitive,

Politically Correct &
Bias Free Language

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 World Englishes

Aspects American English (US) British English (UK)

Punctuation She said, “I’ll be at work by 8 a.m.” She said, “I’ll be at work by 8 a.m.”

Date March 2, 2017 2 March 2017

Spelling Center, color, organize, programe Centre, colour, organise, programme

Words Elevator, pants, diaper Lift, trousers, nappy

Expression/Local Idiom Ruffled feathers (agitated) Knickers in a twist (agitated)

Grammar Do you have that book? Have you got that book?

Pronunciation
Vase /vãs/— sounds like VEYZ Vase /va:z/- sounds like vahz.
(Irrelevant in writing)

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 The World Englishes

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Philippine English

Comfort Room Toilet, washroom, lavatory

There’s a traffic There’s a heavy traffic

Salvage (to brutally kill) Salvage (To save)

For a while (does not exist outside Ph) Just a second / Just a moment

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Every English speaking nation has its own set of English phrases and
idioms; English is equally idiosyncratic India, Jamaica,Zimbabwe, or
Singapore. “In other words, there is no wrong way of speaking
English as long as those who speak it understand each other.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Connotative versus Denotative Meaning

Connotation

a. :Something suggested by a word or thing: IMPLICATION

b. :the suggesting of a meaning by a word apart from the thing it
explicitly names or describes.

Denotation

a. An act or process of denoting

b. A direct specific meaning as distinct from an implied or
associated idea.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Race & Ethnicity

Racism is a form of discrimination against a person or persons of a

different race. In general, it is best to avoid identifying people by race
or ethnic group. Race is emotionally charged topic, so it is best to
tread carefully with the language used to refer to race , as Patricia
Arinto (2009) asserts in English for the Profession, “only if it is
relevant to what you have to say.” Words that reinforce stereotypes
and that imply all people of a particular race or ethnic group are the
same should be avoided.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Gender & Sexual Orientation

Sexism refers to the prejudice and discrimination based on sex

or gender. To be inclusive of all people in general references,
one should favor gender-neutral words and phrases over
gender-biased words.

For example, rather than “man-made,” one can say

“manufactured,” “synthetic,” or “artificial.” Instead of “layman’s
term” one can use “ordinary terms.” Neutral words should also
be chosen over words with “man” and “woman” in job titles and
descriptions.

One should also avoid sexist terms like “woman lawyer” and
“male nurse” and simply use lawyer and nurse.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 According to the American Psychological Association,

communicators must be specific when referring to males and
females in terms of their age: females 18 years or older are
women, not girls. “Girls” refers to those in high school or
younger. The same is true for “boys” and man.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Pronouns may also be gender-biased, for example, when the masculine “he”
pronouns is used as a generic one for both genders. Gender biased pronouns
can be avoided by:

a. Dropping pronouns that signify gender and restating sentence.

b. Changing to plural construction.
c. Replacing masculine or feminine pronouns with “one” or you.”

Example:

Gender-Biased Example: Each student should submit his term paper by Monday.

Restatement Each student should submit a term paper by Monday.

Plural Construction Students should submit their term papers by Monday.

Use of “you” You should hand in your term paper by Monday.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Other gender-related terms may have to do with gender orientation or sexual

orientation. It is important to be sensitive to new attitudes about homosexual,
transexual, and transgender people. For example, most gay people prefer the
term “gay” to the more clinical “homosexual” as a label. “Lesbian” is currently
the term preferred by gay women. Transgender people referred to as being the
gender they identify as not their birth gender associated with their sex. Again as
a matter of principle, one should refer to societal group in the way that members
of these groups prefer to be referred to. Note also that the terminology in this
area is developing and that not everyone agrees.

Mr. Mrs. Ms. Mx.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Social Class

Class discrimination or classism is a form of prejudice against a

person or people because of their social class. An example of
language with bias against class is the American-term “white
trash,” which is not only a racial slur but a classist one that
refers to white people, usually from the rural Southern United
States, coming from a lower social class inside the white
population. The term is negative not just because of the words
that comprise it but also because of its connotation of danger;
white trash people are seen as criminal, unpredictable, and
without respect for authority. In other cultures such as ours,
there may also be a kind of classism against those who are
economically privileged.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Age

Ageism is a form of discrimination against other people because

of their age or assuming that older people are less physically,
intellectually, or emotionally able than other age groups. The
capabilities of younger people should also not be
underestimated on the basis of their age.

Again, it is only important to refer a person’s age when the

information is pertinent to what is being discussed. When
referring to a generic group, one should also ask their subjects
what wordings they prefer: Do they wish to be called “older
persons” or “senior citizens”? Do they prefer the label “youths”,
“teenagers,” or “young people”?

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Disabilities
Discrimination in this area often arises because of the lack of
awareness and understanding. Therefore, first, it is important
to distinguish some terms that are mistakenly understood to be
synonymous. Various guides on bias-free communication and
often confused terminology are available online. One example is
“A Guide to Bias-Free Communications” published by the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. It defines the terms
“impairment,” “disability”, and “handicap” as respectively,

1. “A physiological condition”
2. “The consequence of an impairment” which may or may
not be handicapping. &
3. The social implication of a disability; a condition or
barrier imposed by the society, the environment or
oneself.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Thus according to these definitions, a “limp” is an impairment

in which a leg or foot is damaged or stiff. A disability that may
result from arthritis is difficulty in walking, or walking unevenly
and or haltingly. People may be handicapped by having to climb
stairs in buildings with no elevators. Other guides from other
cultural contexts may provide different definitions and
examples; it is essential when communicating to do research on
these definitions.

Finally, when referring to people with disabilities, the focus

should be on the person, not condition (Arinto, 2009). In
Patricia Arinto’s English for Professions (2009), she advises
writers and communicators to avoid hurtful expressions such
as “retards” or seemingly neutral description “the mentally
retarded” and to use “people with mental retardation.”
Similarly, instead of “the blind” and “cancer patients,” one
should instead use “people with vision impairments” and
“people being treated for cancer,” respectively.

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 Overstatement vs Understatement

BUKIDNON STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SECONDARY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT