C. How to avoid Discriminatory
Treatment on Racial of Ethnic Grounds
1. Correct naming
Some indigenous people of Australia object to being labelled
"Aborigines" - a term imposed on them by the first British
colonisers, which also refers to any indigenous people in
the world. Some people prefer to be known by their specific
regional names, for example:
Koorie (Southern Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria and Tasmania);
Murri (Northern Queensland);
Nyunga (South Western Australia); or
their specific language groupings such as:
Anangu (Central Australia); and
Yolngu (Arnhem Land).
Others, however, consider the noun "Aborigine(s)", capitalised
to be acceptable.
Torres Strait Islanders have a linguistic and cultural
identity which is different from that of the indigenous
people of mainland Australia. It is recommended that this
fact be recognised by referring to them as Torres Strait
islanders or that the names of the various groups be used.
When referring to the two cultural groups together, both
should be referred to individually, for example, Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people. This should be maintained
throughout a document rather than having a disclaimer at
the beginning such as "the term Aboriginal refers to both
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people". Similarly
in speech, terms such as "ATSI people" should be avoided,
as the implication is of a distinct "ATSI" cultural identity.
2. Personal names
Many Aborigines were given an anglicised name which they
may wish to interchange with, or exchange for, an Aboriginal
name or Torres Strait Islander name. For example, the celebrated
Aboriginal writer, the late Oodgeroo Noonuccal, preferred
to use her Aboriginal name rather than her anglicised name,
Kath Walker. In the media, an Aboriginal or Torres Strait
Islander person's name should be used where this would be
the procedure for a non-Aborigine.
3. Racial Identity
Black(s), Black Australians: it is inappropriate
to make specific recommendations here, but great care must
be taken when making reference to the colour of a person's
skin. Usually, such a reference serves discriminatory purposes.
Full-blood Aborigines, half-caste(s), part-Aborigines
are expressions that distinguish between Aboriginal people
in terms of racial "purity" and are to be avoided because
they often serve discriminatory purposes. As Even Fesl (quoted
in Ann Pauwels' Non-discriminatory Language, 1991)
says:
How often... have you heard people speaking of us as full-blood,
half-castes and part-Aborigines? This linguistic dissection
as well as being nonsensical, because everyone in
Australia is racially mixed, is also extremely insulting.
Dissection of people into "parts" is a direct follow on
from imported cultural imperialism.
Primitive(s), nomads, tribes: since Aboriginal
society and culture are complex and since Aborigines have
a highly developed sense of ownership of and affiliation
with the land, such terms are inappropriate. Primitive is
best avoided except by anthropologists who use it without
pejorative connotations. Nomads should be replaced by "hunters
and gatherers". Tribes should be replaced by "family groups"
or "clans", as these terms are common language used by many
Aborigines.
Abo(s), boong(s), coon(s) and other aggressive
and derogatory labels should be avoided at all costs, as
should stereotypical language such as lazy, backward, drunken,
stupid, pitiable and so on. Such descriptions form a massive
barrier to linguistic equality, not to mention social equality.
4. Cultural/Religious Activities
Corroboree: corroborees are ceremonies,
not parties, and should be described with the same reverence
as non-Aboriginal ceremonies. Instead of myths or legends
it is more appropriate to use "creation stories", "religious
stories" or "religion".
Walkabout: because of its many negative
connotations in non-Aboriginal usage (unexplained and unauthorised
absence, mental disorder), this term should be avoided.
5. Correct presentations of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander history
One should avoid expressions which render the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander presence and many achievements
in Australia invisible. Such expressions as "Captain Cook
discovered Australia" or the description of Australia before
the arrival of the British as "terra nullius" are inaccurate
and insulting to the indigenous people of Australia, who
were here forty to fifty thousand years before the arrival
of Europeans.
The following questions may assist in the recognition
and avoidance of linguistic discrimination in relation to
racial and ethnic characteristics.
- (a) Does the context warrant the description of a person
belonging to a group (only) in terms of ethnic or racial
characteristics? Is the reference to such characteristics
essential to an understanding of the context, or is it
gratuitous?
- (b) If ethnic or racial information about a person or
group is considered relevant, is it presented in a non-discriminatory
manner? In other words, is it provided for all groups
rather than restricted to certain minority groups?
- (c) Is the terminology used to describe the person or
group subject to confusion or controversy? If so, it may
be best to provide an explanation or definition of how
the term is used in a particular context.
How to use Language that is
Non-Discriminatory on the Grounds of Homosexuality
This section will be published in Stage 2 of this project.
How to avoid Discriminatory
Treatment on the Grounds of Homosexuality
This section will be published in Stage 2 of this project.
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