Offensive Epithets in Six Dictionaries

Abstract

Are we living in an age of sensitivity, with an increased awareness of how words contribute to happy and unhappy feelings? Or are we living in an age of anxiety, in response to pathological prickliness? Or, are we living in an age of both? Regardless of what we name our historical context, we cannot fail to realize that epithets which are perceived as offensive‐by those who use them, by those to whom they are applied, or by third parties‐can give rise to all sorts of unpleasantness. And regardless of our individual feelings and opinions about groups likely to take offense at some epithets used to refer to them, we surely want to know how our language may be received. If we are to offend, let it be knowingly!

Citation

Pierson, R. (1984), "Offensive Epithets in Six Dictionaries", Reference Services Review, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 41-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb048868