E-Book Overview
This title takes on terms and expressions that malign gender or sexual orientation, or create controversy and confusion. Many of the words or expressions in this dictionary are recognizeable at once for their bias, others are words we often use without realizing their underlying meaning or without knowing how their meanings have been twisted to suit the purposes of those who demean others. The expressions shed light on how our lives are shaped by learned notions of gender and sexual orientation - in particular, how words are used to put some groups down and privilege others. The dictionary provides: etymologies, alternative spellings, the full range of definitions, changes in meaning over time or among various groups, and quotations.
E-Book Content
Praise for The Color of Words “From Abie to Zulu, with slurs of nearly every U.S. ethnic group, ethnic euphemisms, and key terms in multicultural debates, The Color of Words provides the wherewithal to understand the politics of language and the language of racial politics.” —Amazon.com “This book promises to become a classic in the field of multicultural literature.” —Paul Pedersen, Professor, Department of Human Studies, The University of Alabama at Birmingham “A writer and editor trained as an anthropologist, Herbst has created a balanced, scholarly treatment of intercultural communication. This work will help define the language of cultural relations.” —Library Journal “An essential reference book and a readable short history of ethnic slurs.” —American Studies International “Thank you, Philip H. Herbst, for bravely becoming the lexicographer of U.S. ethnic bias in your new book, The Color of Words. You add both light and depth to our understanding of the power and perils of language.” —George Simons/George Simons International “As politicians and scholars consider regulating hate speech and individuals express concern about using appropriate and respectful terms in their everyday speech, this book will serve as an essential guide to the language of our multicultural society.” —Anti-Defemation League/Multicultural Review “This unique reference book will be helpful for anyone living or working in a multicultural setting and interesting to anyone who is curious about the language.” —The Evanston Review “Highly recommended.” —MultiCultural Review “Thorough and enlightening. An essential purchase for every reference collection.” —American Reference Books Annual “Ask anyone who has ever tried to engage in a conversation about race—it is much easier said than done. The Color of Words can support this dialogue by guiding students in understanding ethnic labels and racist language. This well-researched reference tool avoids a ‘politically correct’ tone.” —Teaching Tolerance “This dictionary is more than about the color of words. It is also about the power of words. For individuals who take trips across ethnic and racial boundaries, this book is equivalent to a well-drawn map or correctly calibrated compass.” —George Henderson/Dean/ College of Liberal Studies/The University of Oklahoma “An interesting and informative resource which may be read coverto-cover or used as a reference source. Helpful in all academic and public libraries to sensitize people to the problems that their words may cause. It will also be a valuable addition to a traditional dictionary reference collection as it adds breadth to the coverage.” —Booklist “The Color of Words fills a need by bringing together definitions, etymologies, and commentary on the language of ethnic relationships in the United States. This book will be of interest not only to libraries, but to anyone interested in American society and the American language.” —Jean Alexander/Reference Librarian/ Northwestern University Library “Author Philip Herbst has produced a unique and thought-provoking work that will have readers pon