Date: Mon, 20 Nov 1995 09:38:13 -0600

From: "Kathleen M. O'Neill" koneil1[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UIC.EDU

Subject: Re: PC Language



After reading two student term papers on politically correct language (one

on parody PC and one on serious PC), I am having a hard time distinguishing

between parody and serious intent.



My question, however, has to do with who makes up the body of PC activists.

College professors? Feminists? Special ed teachers? Minority activists?

Males who want to work at Hooters? The super-ego?



Where does this euphemistic/revisionist energy come from?



Unfortunately, I have no conclusive academic answer,

but I can say from experience that on my campus

the most regular users of PC language (with

serious intent) are administrators in the

Campus Housing department.



Buzzwords like "diversity," "multi-culturalism,"

and many, many others never saw the light of

day on this campus until Housing used them in

promotional materials around 1990-91.



I don't really know the significance of

Campus Housing's role in revisionism,

but I do know that ever since, PC language

has been adopted by almost the entire

administration.



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;Kathleen M. O'Neill ... Language Laboratory Technician I ;

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