Euphemism treadmill

The euphemism treadmill or euphemism cycle describes how words originally intended to be neutral can gain negative connotations over time. This may due to social stigmas and taboos. This overlaps with the linguistics process called pejoration.Pejoration, Wiktionary
The term was coined by psychologist Steven Pinker in 1994.Pinker, Steven. "Opinion | The Game of the Name", The New York Times, 5 April 1994. Linguist Sharon Henderson Taylor's term "euphemism cycle" preceded it in 1974.Henderson Taylor, Sharon (1974). Terms for Low Intelligence. American Speech 49 (3/4): 197–207.
The euphemism treadmill can describe terms used for stigmatized groups of people. Racism, ableism, and other forms of stigma cause the euphemism treadmill to keep moving. The only way to stop the treadmill would be to fix the stigma that powers it.Futshane, Lusanda. Inclusive language: outrunning the euphemism treadmill, League DigitalPeterson, Ashley. What Is… the Euphemism Treadmill, Mental Health @ Home
==Examples==
These words were intended to be neutral, but later gained negative connotations and have been replaced.
===Health===
*Sexually-transmitted infections were first referred to as "venereal diseases," referring to Venus, the goddess of love. They were later called sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs), then changed to sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) in the hopes of reducing stigma.
*"Family planning" is sometimes used in place of "birth control."
===Words for groups of people===
====Race====
*Black people were previously referred to using the N word, then "colored people," then Negroes, and then either Black or African American (in the United States).Demby, Gene. Why We Have So Many Terms For 'People Of Color' National Public Radio
*In the United States, the term "people of color" has replaced "ethnic minorities."
====Disability====
People with disabilities, especially intellectual disability, have often been subject to the euphemism treadmill.
*People with intellectual disability used to be classified as idiots (IQ of 0-25), imbeciles (IQ of 26-50), and morons (IQ of 51-70).The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile', Merriam-Webster When people started using these as insults, the term "mental retardation" was created as a respectful alternative. People then created the insult "retard" and the suffix "-tard."Stollznow, Karen. Ableist Language and the Euphemism Treadmill, Cambridge BlogSimpson, John. CHAPTER 2: WHAT’S IN A NAME?, Supporting Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities & Mental Illnesses. Accessed via BC Campus Open Text Now, the term intellectual disability is used.(17 February 2012) What's in a name? Attitudes surrounding the use of the term 'mental retardation'. Paediatrics & Child Health 17 (2): 71–74.
*People with congenital iodine deficiency syndrome, a condition that causes intellectual disability and health problems if left untreated, were once called "cretins." This term is now used as an insult.Cretin, Dictionary.comCretin, Vocabulary.com
*The term "special needs" is beginning to fall off the euphemism treadmill, with disability advocates favoring "disability" instead.Gernsbacher, M.A., Raimond, A.R., Balinghasay, M.T. et al. “Special needs” is an ineffective euphemism. Cogn. Research 1, 29 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-016-0025-4
*Nonspeaking people used to be called "dumb" (e.g. "deaf and dumb").Malone, Emerson. Ableism Is Embedded In Our Language. We Can Dismantle It, Buzzfeed NewsMorris, Alexandra, and Sneed, Debby. Blog: A Brief Guide to Disability Terminology and Theory in Ancient World Studies, Society for Classical Studies
*People with dwarfism (also known as little people or dwarfs) used to be called "midgets," which is now an offensive term.Dorns, Michael. Dwarf vs. Midget: Everything You Need To Know About The Difference Between Dwarf And Midget, Difference 101
*Wheelchair users who cannot walk have been called "lame," "handicapped," and "crippled." These words are now negative.
====Poverty====
*The term "unhoused" is replacing "homeless."Burke, Riley. Unhoused vs Homeless: Understanding the Difference, Next Modern HomeIonescu, Diana. How We Talk About Homelessness: Why Language Matters, Planetizen
*Programs to help people in poverty were previously called "welfare" or "home relief" and are now called cash assistance or described by the name of the specific program.McWhorter, John. Euphemize this, Aeon
==Impact==
Using negative words about a person can encourage judgmental attitudes towards them.
==See also==
*Ableism
*Class discrimination
*Dehumanization
*Discrimination
*Euphemism
*Racism
*Stigma
==References==
Category:History
Category:Linguistics