The language we speak is made up
of words. Each word has a specific meaning and the appropriate usage of a
combination of words helps us to convey a message, either orally or in writing,
to others. Our thoughts become words, and our words become action. So our words have the power to inspire
someone or hurt someone. That is why it is said, “Words have so much power,
that they can either make or break, a relationship.”
We cannot neglect the importance
of right usage of our words, because it is not only an integral part of our communication
process, but it also carries an emotional dimension.
Take for example; we generally
call a person who cannot see, as a blind person a person who cannot hear as
deaf, a person who cannot walk properly as lame, so on and so forth. The
dictionary meaning of the word would be undoubtedly right, but on an emotional
level, it sounds a little harsh. There
is a better way of saying it. You can call the person as a “physically
challenged” person. The same goes for words such as “insane” or “mad”. The
better word that could be used is “mentally challenged”. I am aware that by
changing the word the status of the person does not change, but it gives an
implication that he is one among us , who has a specific challenge to face in
his life. This puts him on an equal status or may be in a priority status.
Recently there are more welcome
developments on this aspect. The terminology “differently abled” has now come
to replace the terminology, “physically challenged” and is widely used in
Govt.offices and newspapers. When you call some one as “differently abled”, it
means that, though they have a challenge or a difficulty in one aspect, they
have a special ability in some other aspect, which helps them to cope up with
their inadequacy, to some level.
If you would have noticed the
physically challenged people closely, you would accept it is true.When I was
doing my schooling, I used to visit a school of visually challenged people, as
a part of the Interact Club service project, to help the inmates write letters
to their relatives, as they dicate them. I noticed that they were very creative
with poetry and with singing. There is
an organisation in Mumbai called the “mouth and foot painting artists” www.imfpa.co.in. Though they are physically
challenged, they are differently abed in the sense that they can paint
wonderful painting, using their mouth and foot, which a normal person cannot
do. Their paintings are printed and sold as post cards and calendars. The money
generated by the sale of these items, goes to support their life and help them
live a dignified life.
It is said, “When God closes one
door he opens the other”. I have found it is true, when I relate this quote with
these people, who form a minority in the world we live, but very much a part of
us.
Similarly, we find the usage of
words like “Orphanages” and “Oldage homes” which gives the inmates of these
centres, an isolated feel. The better choices could be “Children Rehabilitation
Centre” instead of Orphanages and “Retirement homes” instead of Oldage home.
It is also noteworthy, that in
the recent usage of English, a child with inborn intelligence is called a
“Gifted Child” and the child who has a learning difficulty is called a “Special
Child”. This means a special child is one who needs special care; someone who
needs extra effort on the part of the parent and teachers, to make him
understand concepts that are easy for a gifted child to understand. We cannot
condemn a child as a dunce or academically poor, without taking an initiative
or extra effort from our side.
These words enable a change in
our mindset and ultimately the way we treat them. It helps us to shift the
focus from condemning someone to taking social responsibilty. Just the change
of words has the magic and power to change our perception of a particular
situation. So, let us be sensitive to the feelings of others and be sensible in
the choice of right words. Let us choose empowering words in place of
condemning words, for it is the mark of a progressive civilisation.
Happy Reading,
D.Senthil Kannan
Artical dated April 2011