Talking About People: A Guide to Fair and Accurate Language

(Paperback)

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Description

In this reference guide, Rosalie Maggio offers thousands of alternatives for outdated, stereotypical and damaging language. This substantially updated and expanded version of Maggio's earlier work, "The Dictionary of Bias-Free Usage", also covers numerous words and phrases that were not even part of our language as little as five years ago. This reference guide should merit a place next to the dictionary and thesaurus of all who are sensitive to the use of fair and accurate language, helping them make an informed judgement when choosing words to describe people in terms of their age, sex, employment, economic status, religion, lifestyle, ethnic background or disability.

Reviews

.,."an excellent thesaurus of non-sexist, non-offensive alternatives for your thesis or journal article. If you have ever agonized over the correct way to "talk about people" this book is a valuable addition to your bookshelf....also fantastic for those like me who want to trace the evolution of word usage, or just want to browse through the history of our culture, as expressed by how we talk about one another....I highly recommend Talking About People. This volume should be on the shelves and required reading at every board meeting of Texaco, Denny's, or American Airlines. Take a look at Talking About People, you'll enjoy it."-The Library Letter
.,."the book itself is very good....Useful for both reference and casual reading."-CHOICE
...an excellent thesaurus of non-sexist, non-offensive alternatives for your thesis or journal article. If you have ever agonized over the correct way to "talk about people" this book is a valuable addition to your bookshelf....also fantastic for those like me who want to trace the evolution of word usage, or just want to browse through the history of our culture, as expressed by how we talk about one another....I highly recommend Talking About People. This volume should be on the shelves and required reading at every board meeting of Texaco, Denny's, or American Airlines. Take a look at Talking About People, you'll enjoy it.-The Library Letter
...the book itself is very good....Useful for both reference and casual reading.-CHOICE
Given the breadth of coverage and its highly accessible style, this reference should be added to all high school, collegiate, and public library collections.-ARBA
It's the best of three recent books for writers, speakers and civilized civilians....Talking About People belongs at our desks.-Between the Times
Maggio....recognizes more than ever that gender bias and cultural assumptions can adversely affect not just women, but also men.-Rettig on Reference
Recommended for all libraries lacking a source on bias-free language.-Library Journal
Talking About People accomplishes its stated goals of informing and guiding the use of people language in the United States as it approaches the millenium.... Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.-Counterpoise
This book dives deeply into the treacherous waters of the language usage guidelines often belittled as politically correct but regarded by others as having a powerful impact on perception....The thoughtful, sometimes humorous volume might be enjoyed by anyone interested in language, including writers, teachers and students. It's full of intruiging tidbits.-Quest Publication of the Muscular Dystrophy Assoc.
This book is a must-have for not only libraries and writers, but for all people who deal with the spoken language.-The Pocono Record
..."the book itself is very good....Useful for both reference and casual reading."-CHOICE
"Given the breadth of coverage and its highly accessible style, this reference should be added to all high school, collegiate, and public library collections."-ARBA
"It's the best of three recent books for writers, speakers and civilized civilians....Talking About People belongs at our desks."-Between the Times
"Maggio....recognizes more than ever that gender bias and cultural assumptions can adversely affect not just women, but also men."-Rettig on Reference
"Recommended for all libraries lacking a source on bias-free language."-Library Journal
"Talking About People accomplishes its stated goals of informing and guiding the use of people language in the United States as it approaches the millenium.... Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries."-Counterpoise
"This book dives deeply into the treacherous waters of the language usage guidelines often belittled as politically correct but regarded by others as having a powerful impact on perception....The thoughtful, sometimes humorous volume might be enjoyed by anyone interested in language, including writers, teachers and students. It's full of intruiging tidbits."-Quest Publication of the Muscular Dystrophy Assoc.
"This book is a must-have for not only libraries and writers, but for all people who deal with the spoken language."-The Pocono Record
..."an excellent thesaurus of non-sexist, non-offensive alternatives for your thesis or journal article. If you have ever agonized over the correct way to "talk about people" this book is a valuable addition to your bookshelf....also fantastic for those like me who want to trace the evolution of word usage, or just want to browse through the history of our culture, as expressed by how we talk about one another....I highly recommend Talking About People. This volume should be on the shelves and required reading at every board meeting of Texaco, Denny's, or American Airlines. Take a look at Talking About People, you'll enjoy it."-The Library Letter

Author Bio

ROSALIE MAGGIO has been a professional writer and editor for 25 years. She has edited for a college textbook, a university magazine, and trade publishers. She is the author of several books including The Dictionary of Bias-Free Usage (first published in 1987 by Oryx Press as The Nonsexist Word Finder: A Dictionary of Gender-Free Usage.) and the popular book How to Say It. Ms. Maggio has won numerous book awards.