Language Choices

A new report has been criticized from both sides of the political aisle. Published by the American Medical Association and the Center for Health Justice, “Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative, and Concepts,” is described as an “equity document.” Its purpose is to provide guidance to physicians and healthcare workers.

Some recommendations seem appropriate, while others seem impractical or, as a New York Times opinion writer called them, “absurd.” Michelle Goldberg gives an example:

“The guide suggests replacing ‘vulnerable’ with ‘oppressed,’ even though they’re not synonymous: it’s not oppression that makes the elderly vulnerable to Covid.”

Key principles include avoiding using stigmatizing and dehumanizing adjectives, avoiding generalizations, avoiding language with violent connotations, and avoiding unintentional blaming. The report suggests “people-first" language, which I suggest in the textbook—when appropriate.

I wonder how students feel about the more specific recommendations in the report: Which would they follow, and which seem silly or unnatural?