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 4 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. 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. 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 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.

Provider : Karen Korn 4 Lessons · 10m in Arabic, English

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, 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, or exclusive language in the workplace
Recognize how name pronunciation, nicknames, and humor contribute to respectful treatment of others
Apply best practices for building linguistic awareness
Modify your behavior and language to match your surroundings and context
Make intentional word choices that support better work relationships
Understand why others may not appreciate certain humor, terms, or well-intended nicknames

Key Takeaways

Cultivating linguistic awareness helps you avoid biased, non-inclusive language and build better work relationships.
Name pronunciation, nicknames, and humor all play a role in treating others respectfully.
Being mindful of how we interact matters in a diverse workspace.
Skillfully modifying your language to fit the context lets you make intentional, respectful word choices.
Understanding inclusive language helps you express yourself without accidentally offending others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this course?

You will learn how to cultivate linguistic awareness to avoid biased, non-inclusive language, how name pronunciation, nicknames, and humor contribute to respectful treatment of others, and best practices for building linguistic awareness.

Who is this course for?

It is for anyone working in a diverse workspace who wants to be mindful of how they interact with others and make intentional, respectful word choices.

Does this course address humor and jokes at work?

Yes. It discusses inclusive language and helps you understand why others may not appreciate certain humor, terms, or even well-intended nicknames, and offers practices to express yourself without accidentally offending others.

What topics are covered in the lessons?

The lessons cover Names and Nicknames; Humor, Anecdotes, and Conversation; Practices for Building Awareness; and a Test Your Knowledge assessment.