UK charity hopes to 'decolonise' English vocabulary

 Watch:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZKcHadAbjo

The English language has been evolving for centuries, if not for millennia. Conversations from the Middle Ages would be almost unrecognisable today. In particular, the use and meaning of vocabulary is in constant flux. The British charity Oxfam has issued a guide that further pushes for changes in how the language is used, especially by charity workers. Oxfam wants to "decolonise" English, which it considers to be, "the language of a colonising nation". It said English needs to change "in order to decolonise our ways of working and shift power". Oxfam has issued a 92-page "Inclusive Language Guide" to advise employees on the use of language "to support everyone to feel empowered to be inclusive in their work".

Oxfam was founded in 1942 to help alleviate global poverty. It now operates in more than 80 countries worldwide. Its new guide recognises the reality that English is the dominant language used by charity workers in former British colonies. Oxfam said: "This guide aims to support people who have to work and communicate in the English language as part of this colonial legacy." The guide focuses on inclusivity for the disabled, the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants, refugees, and others. Suggested language changes include avoiding "colonial" phrases like "headquarters" and "mankind". It said the latter word could be viewed as being patriarchal as "it is often misunderstood as only referring to men".

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	evolving	a.	A period of history roughly between the years 1000 to 1453.
2.	millennia	b.	Sending settlers to a place (another country) and establish political control over it.
3.	the Middle Ages	c.	Developing gradually.
4.	constant	d.	Periods of a thousand years.
5.	in flux	e.	Happening continuously over a period of time.
6.	colonising	f.	Continuous change.
7.	inclusive	g.	Giving equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded.

    Paragraph 2

8.	alleviate	h.	A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
9.	poverty	i.	Make suffering, deficiency, or a problem less severe.
10.	dominant	j.	The lasting impact of events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.
11.	legacy	k.	The second or second mentioned of two people or things.
12.	refugee	l.	The state of being extremely poor.
13.	latter	m.	Relating to a system of society or government controlled by men.
14.	patriarchal	n.	Having power and influence over others.

 

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. evolving
2. constant
3. issued
4. empowered
5. inclusive
6. founded
7. alleviate
8. legacy
9. avoiding
10. referring

1. non-stop
2. reduce
3. established
4. consequences
5. developing
6. alluding
7. published
8. steering clear of
9. all-encompassing
10. unchained

Role play

Role  A – Speaking You think speaking is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): using flash cards, reading books or listening to music.

Role  B – Using Flash Cards You think using flash cards is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): speaking, reading books or listening to music.

Role  C – Reading Books You think reading books is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): using flash cards, speaking or listening to books.

Role  D – Listening to Music You think listening to music is the best way to learn vocabulary. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the least effective of these (and why): using flash cards, reading books or speaking.

Discussion - Language

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'English'?
3. What do you think of the English language?
4. How has your language been evolving?
5. What are your favourite English words?
6. How do you learn English vocabulary?
7. What do you think of English words being 'colonial'?
8. What do you know about Britain's colonial past?
9. How can language make people more inclusive?
10. What English words have you learnt recently?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'language'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. What do you know about Oxfam?
15. What are your least favourite English words?
16. Should vocabulary be more gender neutral?
17. Do you think the word 'people' is patriarchal?
18. Should the word 'woman' contain the word 'man'?
19. What needs to change in your language?
20. What questions would you like to ask Oxfam?