I happen to believe that words matter.
In the summer before I went up to University College London to read English Language and Literature, we were sent a reading list. On that list was "The Use of English" by professor Randolph Quirk. In it, Quirk set out 12 uses of language, one of which (from memory) was to convey thoughts. Below, Quirk added a 13th to his list, that some people use language to disguise the fact that they have no thoughts.
I find myself reminded of Quirk's 13th use far too often. And we all do it. Pass words around as though their meanings are self-evident. Yet how often do we think about actual meanings? "Special Educational Needs", anyone? "Conductive therapy"?
For some while I have been troubled by the increasing use of the word "vulnerable" when applied to people with disabilities. Even more troubling to me has been the phrase "most vulnerable". And when I say 'troubled', I mean that I have not been able quite to pin down what it is that has been troubling me. I could not have explained it to you. Until now. Thanks to Jenny Morris.
On her blog, in a post entitled Please don't talk about the "most vulnerable", Jenny writes:
By using the terms ‘vulnerable’ and ‘most vulnerable’, we are voluntarily taking ourselves back to those days when to be disabled was to be shut out, shut away from society, the object of pity, not part of mainstream society. The words are as far removed from defining disability as a civil rights issue as it is possible to be.
Not only that, if we use the term ‘vulnerable’ to make our case for a good quality life, we collude with the centuries-old categorisation of the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’.
That's it! That's what's been troubling. It's what the word "vulnerable" implies when used of disabled people, about citizenship, their well-being and place in society.
If you link to Jenny's excellent post, I urge you also to read her thoughtful reply to the first Comment. You do not need to share her personal political perspective - just please stop talking about "the most vulnerable".
"My point is that it isn't that need for support which makes people vulnerable but the lack of sufficient and appropriate support which places you in danger.
"It's also other people's attitudes which can create vulnerability.
"Vulnerability is created by the context in which people experience their particular needs and circumstances, rather than being an inevitable part of those needs and circumstances.
"Vulnerable" seems now to have invaded political, professional and media discourses about disability. Perhaps it is no more than a fine example of Quirk's 13th use of language? Language used to disguise lack of real thought?