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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