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ESL forum >
Ask for help > help me
help me
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napster
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help me
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Hi guys,How do you call person who is unable to speak "the handycap"
thanks in advanced |
15 Aug 2010
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Lina Ladybird
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A handicapped person that cannot speak is "mute" or "dumb".
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15 Aug 2010
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Apodo
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It is not considered politically correct to use the word �dumb � as this word has connotations of low intelligence. You are dumb = you are stupid.
We used to say �he is dumb � �she is deaf � but now the preferred terms are �a person with a hearing disability � �a person with a speech disabilility � �a person without speech �
This is so we focus on the person and what they can do rather than the disability. |
15 Aug 2010
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almaz
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I agree that the word �dumb � has pejorative connotations but think of our poor idioms: �I was struck dumb by the sheer stupidity of it all � or �I was struck with a speech disability by the sheer stupidity of it all �?
Also, there �s some debate as to whether �hearing impairment/disability � can, in certain communities, actually be more offensive than the word �deaf � (see �deaf culture �, for example).
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15 Aug 2010
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joy2bill
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Oh dear... how difficult it is to stay politically correct.
I agree with Apodo. I would keep right away from calling anyone �dumb �.
We can �t avoid the idioms other than to suggest that some such as the one quoted by Almez are rarely used in everyday speech anymore.
Also idioms are often used with absolutely little reference to their original meaning.
Words do change...just think of all those young girls called "Gay" and young boys called "Dick"
Cheers Joy |
15 Aug 2010
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blunderbuster
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I don �t know anymore where I found this info, but "mute" is not politically correct anymore either, is it?
So, how would you actually say that someone is a "deaf-mute"? It is a person with passive and active communication disabilities? I mean, it is important to knwo what to say, disability is a topic in my curriculum.
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15 Aug 2010
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Apodo
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You �re right BB.
Here �s one link to suggested language to use.
Almaz: You are spot on with your comments about deaf culture.
It�s hard to be PC  |
15 Aug 2010
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redcamarocruiser
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My neighbor �s son was deaf and she used the term "deaf" when talking about him.
This conversation includes a comment by an audiologist and a deaf person.
http://nz.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080212065911AAd7ipu
Deaf is medically correct and will be understood. The label �deaf � is preferred by deaf people and is the official word in their national association, National Association of the Deaf, swo I would say it is politically correct.
The NAD is the nation �s premier civil rights organization of, by and for
deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States of America.
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15 Aug 2010
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ballycastle1
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My youngest daughter has a hearing impairment but she never uses that term when speaing about herself. She simply says �I �m deaf �. The UK organisation for young people with hearing impairments is called The National Deaf Children �s Society. I don �t know where this leaves you, napster. Confused, I would think! |
15 Aug 2010
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Jayho
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Hi all
I think it depends on which country you are in and the terminology that your government currently uses.
Here in Australia the terminology does change from time to time. I currently use the terms vision impaired and hearing impaired because this is what Centrelink, the welfare authority, uses. I have to teach politically correct language to my business students and I usually refer them to websites such as this so they can see which terminology is in use as books can outdate quickly.
Here, mute and deaf and dumb disappeared decades ago. Such a person is now referred to as visually and hearing impaired.
However, like redcamarocrusier said, vision impaired and hearing impaired people do generally refer to themselves as blind or deaf, as do the asssociations.
Cheers
Jayho
P.S Great link Apodo (and it comes from a nice part of our country) |
15 Aug 2010
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Lina Ladybird
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Let me cite Apodo:
We used to say �he is dumb � ... but now the preferred terms are ... �a person with a speech disabilility � �a person without speech
And now Jayho:
Here, mute ... and dumb disappeared decades ago. Such a person is now referred to as visually ... impaired
Thanks, guys, for letting me know about all that!! 
However, firstly, I�ll throw my dictionary in the bin and secondly, I�ll never ever use a certain online dictionary again! 
None of the expressions you �re actually using is mentioned in those dictionaries, but the ones I gave are not even labelled as "old-fashioned". I�m aghast!
Oh dear... Just imagine me having a conversation and mentioning words like dumb or mute - if I did that, I�d probably make a complete fool of myself!! How embarrassing that would be!! (Of course, I knew that "dumb" can also mean "stupid", but I thought it were still correct to use that "label" also for a person who cannot speak.)
PS: napster didn�t ask about "deaf" people or "people with a hearing disability", just about a person who isn�t able to speak... ;)
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15 Aug 2010
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