Words Matter: Textual Abuse of Childhood in the English-Speaking World, and the Role of Language in the Continuing Denial of Children’s Rights

IF 1.1 Q2 SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY
Bernadette J. Saunders
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引用次数: 3

Abstract

This article focuses upon ‘the textual abuse of childhood in the English-speaking world’ (Saunders and Goddard, 2001). It highlights the significant role that the choice of words used to refer to children, and their experiences, plays in both the continued denial of children’s rights, and the perpetuation of children’s lesser status in relation to adults. The evolution in language apparent in international children’s rights documents is compared and contrasted with language adopted in some media articles, and in both fictional and academic literature, provoking thought about children and their experiences. Attention is particularly drawn to evidence of textual abuse in literature that ostensibly advocates for greater acknowledgement of each child as a person with human rights and an entitlement to dignity and respect. The author calls for a more critical awareness of language as a powerful influence on people’s attitudes and behaviours. It is argued that children occupy an ambivalent place in Western society – at once cherished, nurtured, precious and endearing, and yet ‘always othered’ (Lahman, 2008), and often belittled, subjugated, and subjected to ‘normalised’ violence as punishment for being a child. Children’s advocates ought to not only consciously adopt respectful and empowering written and spoken language in reference to children, they ought also to draw others’ attention to the potentially negative impact of ill-chosen or thoughtlessly adopted language. Fictional and academic literature, that thoughtfully and powerfully adopts language and expresses ideas that promote children’s rights, is recognised for its explicit and/or subliminal positive influence on children, adults and our future society.
语言很重要:英语世界对儿童的文本虐待,以及语言在持续剥夺儿童权利中的作用
这篇文章关注的是“英语世界对儿童的文本虐待”(Saunders and Goddard, 2001)。它突出表明,对儿童及其经历的用词选择在继续剥夺儿童权利和使儿童的地位长期低于成人方面所起的重要作用。将国际儿童权利文件中明显的语言演变与一些媒体文章、小说和学术文献中采用的语言进行比较和对比,引发人们对儿童及其经历的思考。特别提请注意的是,在表面上主张更多地承认每个儿童都是享有人权并有权享有尊严和尊重的人的文学作品中存在文本滥用的证据。作者呼吁人们更加批判性地认识到语言对人们态度和行为的强大影响。有人认为,儿童在西方社会中占据着一个矛盾的位置——既被珍视、养育、珍贵和可爱,又“总是被他者”(拉赫曼,2008),而且经常被贬低、征服,并遭受“正常化”暴力,作为作为孩子的惩罚。儿童的倡导者不仅应该有意识地采用尊重和授权的书面和口头语言来提及儿童,他们还应该提请他人注意选择不当或不加考虑地使用语言的潜在负面影响。小说和学术文学深思熟虑,有力地采用了促进儿童权利的语言和表达思想,对儿童、成人和我们未来的社会产生了明确和/或潜意识的积极影响。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
International Journal of Childrens Rights
International Journal of Childrens Rights SOCIAL SCIENCES, INTERDISCIPLINARY-
CiteScore
2.70
自引率
11.80%
发文量
39
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