203. Euphemism Treadmill - Have We Become Too Sensitive?

If one looks at the English language, there are many terms now considered offensive that were considered commonplace, perhaps even sensitive, just a few decades ago. A typical pattern tends to emerge – a word is used to describe a particular group, perhaps innocently at first, and over time, it can become misused and turn into a slur. Another word comes in to replace it, but with time, that word too becomes misused and a slur. New words and phrases can be coined multiple times over the course of a few decades as the initial word becomes stigmatized. But is this a good thing? Or has society become too sensitive? Is The Euphemism Treadmill, as it has become known, a good thing? Author and linguist Karen Stollznow joins the podcast. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/contributors/karen-stollznow-phd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.