Cultivating Linguistic Awareness

Name: Cultivating Linguistic Awareness
Author: Karen Korn

Develop new practices to build linguistic awareness for better inclusion at work

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 5 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

(gentle music) Welcome to Cultivating Linguistic Awareness. These lessons can help you avoid potentially biased, offensive or exclusive language. As children, we are all given names. We grow up using this name, and sometimes we also adopt a nickname from our friends or family. Some nicknames are fun and friendly and are embraced by the person. For example, was a fast runner as a child, so his family started to call him Speedy instead. This nickname made feel good and he continued to use it into his adult life with friends and family. Nicknames like this are used by individuals at their discretion. In more formal or professional settings such as the workplace, nicknames can be less endearing. They're sometimes a way to hurt people or attempt to control or bully them. When a colleague shares a nickname they have adopted and invites you to call them by this name, it's very different from a circumstance where others assign a nickname to an individual against their wishes. These labels can be disrespectful, especially when a person feels a nickname is being used to embarrass or criticize them. Many names have multiple ways of pronouncing them. When meeting someone new, it's important to ask them to share their name and how they want you to pronounce it. Mispronouncing names just like assigning an unfriendly nickname is a form of microaggression or ongoing subtle harassment. Instead, when you mispronounce someone's name, it's best to apologize and start saying it correctly from that moment on. Transgender or non-binary individuals often change their names and the pronouns they use to identify themselves when they transition to a new gender identity. When as transgender or non-binary person changes their name and pronouns, it is important to honor their identity by using them in your own speech. Misgendering is calling someone by pronouns or name that doesn't align with their gender identity. Misnaming is using a person's dead name, which is a name the person no longer wishes to use, even if it was the one assigned to them at birth. Misgendering and misnaming are forms of harassment when done intentionally. So it's helpful to train yourself to use the name and pronouns an individual asks you to use. Otherwise, you risk offending them, as persistent misgendering and misnaming are widely considered to be intentional bullying behaviors. Using a nickname or unkind term to describe someone based on their physical features, such as their size, is also a form of bullying. People may not want attention called to their appearance and it can humiliate them when it occurs. Each of us has the right to live in our body without critique or commentary. People should also not be expected to explain or validate their physical features or their habits, such as eating or exercising. It's best to identify people the same way that they identify themselves, using the name and pronouns they specify. If you can't pronounce someone's name, it's okay to ask them for help and then practice it. It's important to show others that you care enough to use the correct language for addressing them.

Beginner Provider : Karen Korn 5 Lessons · 15m in German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

In this course, you will learn how to cultivate linguistic awareness in order to avoid potentially biased, non-inclusive language. We will also discuss practices that can help you in building better work relationships. You will understand how name pronunciation, nicknames, pronoun use, gendered language, and humor all contribute to respectful treatment of others. In a diverse workspace, it is important to be mindful of how we interact with each other. In this course, you will learn how to skillfully modify your behavior and language to fit in with your surroundings, which will let you make intentional word choices that match the context.

Have you ever heard someone say that they feel like it's impossible to tell a joke anymore because someone always gets offended? In this course, you’ll learn about inclusive language and gain an understanding of why others may not appreciate certain humor, terms, or even well-intended nicknames. You’ll also learn practices to help you express yourself without accidentally offending others.

What You'll Learn

Avoid potentially biased, offensive, exclusive, or otherwise uncomfortable language
Recognize how name pronunciation, nicknames, pronoun use, gendered language, and humor contribute to respectful treatment of others
Apply best practices for building linguistic awareness
Modify your behavior and language to fit your surroundings and make intentional, context-appropriate word choices
Understand why others may not appreciate certain humor, terms, or well-intended nicknames
Express yourself without accidentally offending others

Key Takeaways

Cultivating linguistic awareness helps you avoid biased and non-inclusive language and build better work relationships.
Name pronunciation, nicknames, pronoun use, gendered language, and humor all contribute to the respectful treatment of others.
In a diverse workspace, it is important to be mindful of how people interact with one another.
Making intentional word choices that match the context lets you express yourself without accidentally offending others.
Understanding inclusive language clarifies why others may not appreciate certain humor, terms, or well-intended nicknames.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this course?

You will learn how to cultivate linguistic awareness to avoid potentially biased, non-inclusive language, and how name pronunciation, nicknames, pronoun use, gendered language, and humor contribute to respectful treatment of others. You will also learn practices to help you build better work relationships and express yourself without accidentally offending others.

What topics does the course cover?

The course covers Names and Nicknames; Gendered and Gender-Neutral Language; Humor, Anecdotes, and Conversation; and Practices for Building Awareness, and it ends with a Test Your Knowledge lesson.

Who is this course for?

It is for anyone who works in a diverse workspace and wants to be mindful of how they interact with others, modify their language to fit the context, and use inclusive language without accidentally offending others.

What skills will I gain?

The course builds skills in diversity awareness, applied linguistics, language acquisition, language education, phonological awareness, and sociolinguistics.

Does the course address concerns about humor and offending people?

Yes. The course explains why others may not appreciate certain humor, terms, or even well-intended nicknames, and teaches inclusive language and practices to help you express yourself without accidentally offending others.

Professional Certifications and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

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Professional Development Units (PDUs): 0.5

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