Mind Your Language!
Nov
16
Written by:
16/11/2011 14:58
One of our dear cohort used the phrase “the wife” today in conversation. He was lucky to have only been chatting by email as had he been in the same room as me then he would have almost certainly needed first aid treatment for a very nasty contusion to the eye.
But it set me thinking. Language is a funny thing. Take for instance my Great Aunty Grace who used, much to my annoyance, to refer to me as some sort of waterfowl; “do you want a cup of tea, duck?” It’s funny what seemingly innocent phrases really rub people up the wrong way.
I worry a lot about political correctness in the strictest sense and tend to agree with John Cleese on the subject who once said that the people who get most wound up about political correctness are generally the people least in control of their emotions; and if we are all to bow to that denominator then, that’s a bit worrysome, when you think about it.
However that said I think we should be mindful of other people feelings. Just because we think someone may be nothing more than a boil on the backside of humanity that could do with a good swift lancing; it doesn’t automatically follow that we should tell them.
I appreciate, given my own proclivity for gobby-ness this may be a bit ‘pot and kettle’ but we all need to think about what we say.
Women, generally for instance, do not like being referred to as love; “have a look at that, love” and my husband becomes very irascible if someone he doesn’t know refers to him as mate; “all right there, mate?”
So in the spirit of being mindful what I say to others I hereby solemnly promise not to call any of you “sweetie”.
6 comments so far...
Re: Mind Your Language!
Perhaps the problem is regional. Many of the patients we see, especially the elderly, are from an East End (of London - and I assure you it is nothing like the TV version) background and would expect to use these "friendship" terms to us and would expect us to reciprocate. Part of patient assessment also includes environment, which would include using language and terms comfortable to the patient. So I might call an eighty-something young lady in one situation something like "my love" - as in "I really think we need to pop you down the hospital, my love". In another situation it might be "Mrs Smith" (assuming, of course, that she is Mrs Smith!). But then I'm one of the dinosaurs and political correctness has never been my strong point.
By JonAcc on
18/11/2011 02:22
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Re: Mind Your Language!
Yes, there are probably some regional influences here but I so agree with the gentleman's dislike of being called 'mate', especially by someone who is considerably younger than me or is trying to sell me something. Why are we so reluctant to use terms like 'Sir' in this country. Most people in other European countries are quite content with their various words like monsieur, herr, signor, etc. Why not the British? Is it some kind of reaction against school, the Armed Services, the 'Honours' system?
And don't get me on to so-called greetings such as 'Hey'.
By pjb002 on
03/01/2012 15:08
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Re: Mind Your Language!
Being ex ambulance (recently retired) I have witnessed on MANY occassion the use of inappropriate address.
It is quite difficult not to lapse into the "are you OK my love?" type conversation. I am sure that when used, these terms are indeed well meant, never-the-less I guess we should endeavour to get it right.
I found myself on many occasion asking the patient what they liked to be called. Part of Good First Aid involves introducing yourself. If the patient is unresponsive, I guess you can call them what you want but reassurance and calming the patient down is imortant, and if by calling them by an address which causes them a little offence, then be careful.
This is my first comment, having just joined the forum etc, so I hope I have not caused any offence 'my luvvers'
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09/01/2012 12:25
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