Such a fascinating post - thank you, Terry and Michael! I don't think I'd ever considered the minefield surrounding sight-related language - I'm grateful that you've got me thinking about it. Great post.
Thanks, Rebecca. Except, in practical terms, do you think we can, or even should, self-police our language all the time? After all, expressions like "turning a deaf ear", "in the land of the blind..." are metaphors. They're not intended to be taken literally, and I don't think most people would take offence. But I think we should definitely be sensitive when using terms like "Shall we see each other on Wednesday" if the person we're talking to is blind. I like to think of all thiis as awareness, but with common sense. What do you think?
I don't think I'd call it 'self-policing', I say that it's more a matter of choosing our words carefully. We all use so many expressions in our everyday lives that might not always be appropriate, but with our amazing language having so many metaphors with which we can express our thoughts these situations are going to come up frequently. I think you're right that when it comes to turns of phrase people wouldn't necessarily take offence, but they could. It's tricky: so many of these expressions are part of our linguistic furniture, aren't they?
'Awareness with common sense' is excellent guidance.
Thanks, Rebecca. "Linguistic furniture": I like that. By the way, I've copyrighted the phrase "Awareness with common sense". Please send me £100 in used fivers immediately.
Very informative and impressive post, Michael! Thanks, Terry, for sharing it with us! Fan of the language that I am, I appreciated the spotlight on the ways we express understanding. I hope you can....uh, see what I mean!
I'm reminded of my dad (from whom I learned my fascination with word usage, and whatever humor can be dredged from it), and his in-car exclamation, when we'd pass a school for the blind: "A sign that says 'Watch for the blind'? I wonder if, near a school for the deaf, there's a 'Listen for the deaf' sign!" Taking it a step further, I used to imagine that the "Watch for the blind" sign was simply a handy marker for an errant timepiece. I love foraging in the forest of words!
🤣 Thanks, Brad, your dad sounds like what we Brits would call a good bloke. Your anecdote reminded me of the time I told my mother-in-law that they were bringing out a Braille version of the Highway Code. Her first reaction was "Oh, that's good", and then she realised what I'd said. I thought she was going to clout me. But back to your story, we get letters from the NHS which state: "If you need a Braille version, please phone....". I'm not sure what the answer is, except that if the health service was more joined up they would, presumably, know who heeded a ~Braille version and send it out automatically.
Good story. Dad was incredible. "Good bloke," indeed! My bro and I both agreed, when we grew up, that he's the funniest man we ever knew. Droll, dry, and impossibly witty and intelligent. True that about the "intelligence" of government. Over here, we shudder when we hear the admin say, "Hi, we're the government, and we're here to help!" Nothing good, we know, can come from that pronouncement!
It’s not a phrase I’d use in the eye hospital, even though it is sometimes (literally) true!
I think most people are, like Kelly, pragmatic and understand people might accidentally use visual metaphors.
I certainly try and steer clear of phrases with negative connotations though, like describing a politician as ‘blind to the needs of her constituents’.
Thanks, Michael. Yes, I hadn't thought of that particular phrase. I mentioned, in a comment to Rebecca, the use of expressions like "In the land of the blind..." I think we ought to be sensitive, but if I thought I had to watch every word I say in case I inadvertently offended someone I';d go insane. I mean, most of these expressioons are metaphors, not intended literally.
Such a fascinating post - thank you, Terry and Michael! I don't think I'd ever considered the minefield surrounding sight-related language - I'm grateful that you've got me thinking about it. Great post.
Thanks, Rebecca. Except, in practical terms, do you think we can, or even should, self-police our language all the time? After all, expressions like "turning a deaf ear", "in the land of the blind..." are metaphors. They're not intended to be taken literally, and I don't think most people would take offence. But I think we should definitely be sensitive when using terms like "Shall we see each other on Wednesday" if the person we're talking to is blind. I like to think of all thiis as awareness, but with common sense. What do you think?
I don't think I'd call it 'self-policing', I say that it's more a matter of choosing our words carefully. We all use so many expressions in our everyday lives that might not always be appropriate, but with our amazing language having so many metaphors with which we can express our thoughts these situations are going to come up frequently. I think you're right that when it comes to turns of phrase people wouldn't necessarily take offence, but they could. It's tricky: so many of these expressions are part of our linguistic furniture, aren't they?
'Awareness with common sense' is excellent guidance.
Thanks, Rebecca. "Linguistic furniture": I like that. By the way, I've copyrighted the phrase "Awareness with common sense". Please send me £100 in used fivers immediately.
🤣
Very informative and impressive post, Michael! Thanks, Terry, for sharing it with us! Fan of the language that I am, I appreciated the spotlight on the ways we express understanding. I hope you can....uh, see what I mean!
I'm reminded of my dad (from whom I learned my fascination with word usage, and whatever humor can be dredged from it), and his in-car exclamation, when we'd pass a school for the blind: "A sign that says 'Watch for the blind'? I wonder if, near a school for the deaf, there's a 'Listen for the deaf' sign!" Taking it a step further, I used to imagine that the "Watch for the blind" sign was simply a handy marker for an errant timepiece. I love foraging in the forest of words!
Thanks again, Terry and Michael!
🤣 Thanks, Brad, your dad sounds like what we Brits would call a good bloke. Your anecdote reminded me of the time I told my mother-in-law that they were bringing out a Braille version of the Highway Code. Her first reaction was "Oh, that's good", and then she realised what I'd said. I thought she was going to clout me. But back to your story, we get letters from the NHS which state: "If you need a Braille version, please phone....". I'm not sure what the answer is, except that if the health service was more joined up they would, presumably, know who heeded a ~Braille version and send it out automatically.
Good story. Dad was incredible. "Good bloke," indeed! My bro and I both agreed, when we grew up, that he's the funniest man we ever knew. Droll, dry, and impossibly witty and intelligent. True that about the "intelligence" of government. Over here, we shudder when we hear the admin say, "Hi, we're the government, and we're here to help!" Nothing good, we know, can come from that pronouncement!
Great essay, Michael. Do you think terms like "the blind leading the blind" are problematic, and if so what can we do about them?
Thanks Terry.
It’s not a phrase I’d use in the eye hospital, even though it is sometimes (literally) true!
I think most people are, like Kelly, pragmatic and understand people might accidentally use visual metaphors.
I certainly try and steer clear of phrases with negative connotations though, like describing a politician as ‘blind to the needs of her constituents’.
Thanks, Michael. Yes, I hadn't thought of that particular phrase. I mentioned, in a comment to Rebecca, the use of expressions like "In the land of the blind..." I think we ought to be sensitive, but if I thought I had to watch every word I say in case I inadvertently offended someone I';d go insane. I mean, most of these expressioons are metaphors, not intended literally.