Don't gobblefunk around with words - blog

[TheWitchesAreBackInTown]

I thought I would share this blog around language, communication disability and discrimination.

Part one focuses on the basics of language and communication and then delves into pronouns.

https://loupreston.substack.com/p/pt-1-intro-dont-gobblefunk-around?utmsource=twitter&utmmcampaign=autoshare&r=22wxxi

Ah Grice's Maxims! Takes me right back to English Language lectures.

Thanks for sharing - have subscribed for the next one.

From the article

Have you been told that using preferred pronouns is a courtesy?

Have you been told that using words such as ‘cis’ adds clarity?

Have you been told that using phrases such as ‘pregnant people’ is inclusive?

None of it is true.

NONE OF IT IS TRUE.

That's interesting, thank you.

I keep idly musing about pronouns. They're not really necessary, are they? They are a useful shorthand to save you repeating someone's name, but not absolutely required. And then there's the fact that pronouns used about you are not directed at you.** So pronoun pronouncers are essentially trying to tell you how to talk about them when they're not there. What the fuck is that about, really?

Placemarking to read later on, got kids running around me at the moment.

On a side note, how do people do the bigly text?

Coercive control and gaslighting.

Coercive control when you are forced to lie. Gaslighting when people read things like "She wasn't allowed to change with her team-mates in the women's changing room."

Part 2. Preston writes about communication disability in children and the impact of pronoun use for these children.

So interesting.

So many of the signs of ADHD and Autism listed on the NHS' own website are directly related to communication and social interaction skills and yet the use of confusing language is promoted in healthcare and education, where these vulnerable children and young people need the most support.
...

Now imagine having a cognitive, learning, sensory, speech or language disability and being expected to understand or use these [neopronouns].

Every single one of these conditions means that children can make errors in understanding or using grammatically and pragmatically regular pronouns. To then ask them to process ‘preferred’ pronouns or neopronouns (neologisms) or other confusing terms is asking them to do something they are unable to do effectively, consistently or at all.

https://loupreston.substack.com/p/pt-2-children-dont-gobblefunk-around

*on these children

All four parts of the blog (handy to use when making complaints or writing EHCPs or policies etc!) -

Pt1 on language, pronouns, gender neutral BS:

t.co/cTJYorv3w7

Pt2 on children with communication disabilities:

t.co/7XYlEKNn6R

Pt3 on adults with communication disabilities:

t.co/sW5cywWUAv

Pt4 on Discrimination against people with language disabilities when making language demands

t.co/MtS6Fx1O12

This is excellent. Thanks so much for sharing OP