Finger spell “hello my name is Alison”

I’m a Beaver leader, little scouts aged 6 and 7 and following on from doing the disability awareness badge, in addition to learning the Beaver Promise in British Sign Language, I’ve been wanting to teach them some basic sign language.  It’s not only a useful skill to have, but if they see someone talking with their hands, it won’t look strange because they will understand what is going on.  I know this is not person first language, I’ll come to that in a bit, because at a Synod Meeting that is thinking about inclusion and diversity, it seemed appropriate to share what I received in the post this week.  The Royal National Institute for Deaf People has produced material to help people become deaf awareness allies.  There are games, flash cards and useful information.  It costs £10 per month for 12 months and the first set of cards arrived on Monday.  It is a timely reminder that not all languages are verbal or written down.  Since the 2022 BLS Act, British Sign Language has been legally recognised as a language in England, Wales and Scotland. If anyone is interested in having a look at the pack, see me at lunchtime.

Now let me focus on what I’ve been asked to speak on this morning.  As part of our thinking on inclusion and diversity I’d like to share my thoughts on the importance of using person first language.  There is a trend, which to be fair has been around for some time, where it has become acceptable to use adjectives as nouns when referring to certain groups of people. 

Now think for a moment, would it be appropriate in our conversations, prayers or sermons to refer to specific groups of people using terms such as the skinny, the ugly, the embarrassed or the thoughtless?  The answer I hope is to say we would not, primarily because it’s rude and offensive.  In addition, it doesn’t sound right. However, in direct contrast, it has become the accepted norm to use terms such as the homeless, the poor, the sick and the disabled.  But isn’t this equally as rude and offensive?

Now I sure some people will say, but what’s the problem with saying the homeless, the sick and the poor.  Let me make it clear I don’t think anyone is deliberately being rude or offensive, using these terms has become such an accepted part of our lives that we don’t really think it about until someone like me points it out.  Also, there’s the assumption that when we use such terms, we know exactly who we are talking about or do we?  A noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing or concept and adjectives are words that name an attribute of a noun.  Consequently, adjectives are descriptive words.  If we are using adjectives as nouns, then when referring to the homeless, the poor, the sick and the disabled we could just as easily be talking about hamsters or yew trees. 

Person first language is not just an issue of using correct grammar, it is about taking a holistic approach because person first language emphasizes an individual’s identity as a person by placing the word “person” or “people” as the subject of any term related to their specific circumstances.  This form of language aims to avoid prejudice, promote respect, and affirm that a person’s circumstances is just one aspect of their identity, not their defining characteristic.  If you are in the health profession, you may have come across this before because with regards to physical disabilities, mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity, as there is a difference between person first language and identity first language.  However, whichever the individual chooses to use and it is for the individual to choose, the important thing is that the word person or people is there. 

With regards to person first language, I’d like to use the word homeless as an example.  Referring to people who do not have suitable accommodation as ‘the homeless’ means they have been reduced to this single issue and are not being viewed as whole people.  Put another way, using the adjective as a noun dehumanises the person because it places greater emphasis on describing or defining what that person is rather than seeing them as a person who is experiencing a particular challenge in their lives.  In addition, the term the homeless, implies that all homeless people are in the same situation.  From years working at Shelter, I know that people are homeless for a whole variety of reasons, from literally having no accommodation and sleeping on the streets, to living is accommodation that is not suitable due to disrepair or access issues.  The same applies to someone who is ill, living with a health condition or experiencing financial difficulties.  There are a whole range of health conditions, illnesses and ways of experiencing financial difficulties.

I think we accept and use terms such as the homeless because it is easier and quicker to say.  But does that make it right?  I don’t think so.  The consequence as I said earlier of using adjectives as nouns, is that it dehumanises people, it reduces them to a faceless issue.  Also, it doesn’t take into account that people often face multiple issues.  Furthermore, referring to people as “the poor” or “the homeless” can sound patronising, condescending and in some cases arrogant, because it implies that we aren’t one of them.  We can detach ourselves from their concerns and situation, because we are not seeing them as people, they are just a problem that happens out there.  How do you know that I’m not homelessness, ill, in debt and living with a disability?  You don’t.  

Whilst it may be easier and quicker to say “the homeless” and “the poor”, person first language is about treating people with dignity and respect.  It’s about acknowledging that we are seeing the person as a person, a fellow human being and not simply defining them by a particular characteristic.

In 1839 Edward Bulwer-Lytton said “the pen is mightier than the sword”.  Words have power, they can be used to affirm and they can be used to destroy.  I would therefore like to encourage you all to think about the language you use and the relevance of person first language.  For worship leaders it may take longer to write and say those prayers or sermon, trust me I know, but if we are to be truly inclusive and recognise that we live in world full of diversity, then surely it is incumbent on us all to make sure that our language and how we refer to each other reflects our shared humanity and treats people with the respect and dignity due to us all.

Sign “Thank you”