uneasydaz
Well-Known Member
LIBRARY researchers have produced a readers’ guide to offensive phrases - including terms like “jock”, “blue nose” and “19th Century Terrorist”.
Boffins made the 257-page guide to highlight potentially derogatory slurs users may come across in books, websites and archives.
The National Library of Scotland’s document, named Inclusive Terminology, lists “outdated and harmful” language.
Among insults considered sectarian are “hun”, “proddy”, “drum basher”, “soap dodgers”, “Orange b*****d” and “Jungle Jims”.
It explains why terms such as “zombies” and “manky mob” are offensive and even gives politically-correct alternatives.
The handbook’s authors said: “The meaning of language has changed over time, being largely dependent on historical and social context and subject to individual preferences.”
The document lists offensive terms relating to race, sexuality, gender, disability, religion and beliefs as well as class.
It refers to the UK’s colonial past with dozens of examples of racial slurs.
A large section focuses on Scotland, mentioning terms like “sawney”, an old derogatory term for Scots.
The guide is currently a first draft but bosses at the library in Edinburgh hope to expand it in the future.
A spokeswoman said: “We constantly review how we describe the collections in our catalogues so people can find what they’re looking for.
“Discriminatory language hinders this process because most people don’t use that language to search our collections.
“Most of these terms don’t feature in our catalogue descriptions - but it’s important for everyone in the sector to be aware of and address discriminatory language.”
Boffins made the 257-page guide to highlight potentially derogatory slurs users may come across in books, websites and archives.
The National Library of Scotland’s document, named Inclusive Terminology, lists “outdated and harmful” language.
Among insults considered sectarian are “hun”, “proddy”, “drum basher”, “soap dodgers”, “Orange b*****d” and “Jungle Jims”.
It explains why terms such as “zombies” and “manky mob” are offensive and even gives politically-correct alternatives.
The handbook’s authors said: “The meaning of language has changed over time, being largely dependent on historical and social context and subject to individual preferences.”
The document lists offensive terms relating to race, sexuality, gender, disability, religion and beliefs as well as class.
It refers to the UK’s colonial past with dozens of examples of racial slurs.
A large section focuses on Scotland, mentioning terms like “sawney”, an old derogatory term for Scots.
The guide is currently a first draft but bosses at the library in Edinburgh hope to expand it in the future.
A spokeswoman said: “We constantly review how we describe the collections in our catalogues so people can find what they’re looking for.
“Discriminatory language hinders this process because most people don’t use that language to search our collections.
“Most of these terms don’t feature in our catalogue descriptions - but it’s important for everyone in the sector to be aware of and address discriminatory language.”