The Conscious Language Newsletter: October/November 2022

November 15, 2022

Note From the Founder

Hello! Like many of you, I’m now on Mastodon, an ad-free, decentralized social network. Instead of separate accounts for Conscious Style Guide, Editors of Color, and AP vs. Chicago, I’ve consolidated, which means I will be discussing writing, editing, publishing, and my forthcoming book on conscious language (Little, Brown Spark) from one account. If you are on Mastodon, please find me.

From the World of Conscious Language

“Especially now, given all the industry’s challenges, restaurants merit more than a symbol to sum them up. Words allow for nuance. Stars, not so much.”

“Some members of the [Sherpa people’s] ethnic group have pushed back against this sort of appropriation.”

“The terminology preferences of autistic individuals have often been ignored in published autism research, even though these preferences have been clearly demonstrated in several peer-reviewed articles and large community surveys.”

Serena Marie, a queer Indigenous Peruvian community facilitator and bartender, says that “while she initially used ‘Latinx,’ she quickly switched to using ‘Latine’ after hearing some elders who wanted to use trans-inclusive language had difficulty with the ‘x’ sound.”

“‘Relapse,’ too, is out of vogue. Many researchers and clinicians now favor terms like ‘return to use’ or ‘resumption of use,’ saying that the former term can feel judgmental and that people often experience ups and downs in their recovery.”

On a swirly blue background are three graphics above the words,

“A star simply living their life is not queerbaiting, particularly if you can’t seem to wrap your head around the concept that they may be bisexual…Nobody ever knows what is happening in another person’s life, and we can’t make assumptions about it either.”

“Using plain language to describe your work is not only important, it’s also part of the NIH mission and federal law.”

“Metaphors are not actual violence, actual colonialism, actual destruction of the Earth. And yet, the imagery of our language is not harmless either.”

The slur “likely has roots in the Algonquian language and originally meant ‘woman.’ But it was co-opted by colonists and recontextualized as a derogatory slur. According to [Deb Haaland, the Interior Department secretary], the term was used to dismiss and dehumanize Indigenous women who had been sexually assaulted.”

CSG in the News

 Can We Save Endangered Languages? [Video] | What Happens Next?

“Conscious language is made up of all these elements that we already do. When your vegetarian friend comes over, are you going to have something vegetarian for them to eat? We’re already thinking in kind, and conscious and inclusive ways.” —Karen Yin Listen to the podcast

“In journalism, our goal is to build trust and credibility. If our word choices repeatedly veer into insensitive territory, we’ll end up insulting and alienating our audience.” —Karen Yin, founder, Conscious Style Guide

“Others’ humanity takes precedence over our desire for unfettered artistic freedom.”

From the Archives

 Make Peace With Words | By Karen Yin, Conscious Style Guide

On borrowing the wisdom of mindfulness meditation to explore the desire for equanimity and emotional liberation.

In Case You Missed It

New addition to the Ability + Disability section. “When we don’t describe the race of someone in an image, we push the narrative that what our society deems as the default (usually a white person), is the default. We exclude other people and make them invisible.”

Read about brands tweeting “KeepTheGrey,” culinary companies reclaiming words like “ghetto” and “hood,” Delta providing a collection of diverse travel imagery, and more.

The Conscious Style Guide newsletter rounds up the best news and blog posts from the world of kind, compassionate, mindful, empowering, respectful, and inclusive language. Note: Spotlighting an opinion is not intended as an endorsement. Please send news tips to [email protected].