Last session of Day 3 of @The_CIEP's 2nd annual conference. Conscious and inclusive language: understanding conscious language and the editorial role w/ Crystal Shelley of @redpenrabbit. No end to the learning from this. #CIEP2021
Words have power, positive and negative. What is conscious language? 'Language rooted in critical thinking and compassion, used skillfully in a specific context'.--Conscious Style Guide 1/ #CIEP2021
Conscious language is *not*
🙅🏾♀️ Political correctness
🙅🏾♀️ Censorship
🙅🏾♀️ Bias free
🙅🏾♀️ Static
🙅🏾♀️ A single guide
2/ #CIEP2021
🙅🏾♀️ Political correctness
🙅🏾♀️ Censorship
🙅🏾♀️ Bias free
🙅🏾♀️ Static
🙅🏾♀️ A single guide
2/ #CIEP2021
Language is shaped by privilege. Conscious language is especially important when talking about individuals and identities. Need to become aware of and address our unconscious bias based on our individual privileges. Context and intent are significant. 4/ #CIEP2021
Conscious language considerations
💡 Disrespectful?
💡 Stigmatising?
💡 Inaccurate?
💡 Biased?
💡 Outdated?
💡 Dehumanising?
💡 Presumptuous?
💡 Judgemental?
💡 Rooted in oppression?
Question the intent. Express intent with care. 5/ #CIEP2021
💡 Disrespectful?
💡 Stigmatising?
💡 Inaccurate?
💡 Biased?
💡 Outdated?
💡 Dehumanising?
💡 Presumptuous?
💡 Judgemental?
💡 Rooted in oppression?
Question the intent. Express intent with care. 5/ #CIEP2021
Conscious language issues are often unintentional. We can all *choose* language that is more respectfu, compassionate, accurate and empowering. 6/ #CIEP2021
How can we be more aware?
✅ Listen (to others)
✅ Learn (the history of)
✅ Be willing to grow and change
✅ Read books and follow conscious language activists
✅ Seek out resources (to support learning and growth)
7/ #CIEP2021
✅ Listen (to others)
✅ Learn (the history of)
✅ Be willing to grow and change
✅ Read books and follow conscious language activists
✅ Seek out resources (to support learning and growth)
7/ #CIEP2021
Takeaway: my role as an editor is to be a good bridge b/w writer and reader, to guide and help informed decisions in writing and communication, to alert to unintended harm. To drive language change positively, to educate and empower. 8/ #CIEP2021
Guide to good feedback:
✅ Be constructive, objective, professional
✅ Focus on reader, not writer
✅ Provide suggestions for alternatives
✅ Share resources for further reading
(IMO: Apply to all types of feedback/edits. Making these a habit of the process is key.)
9/ #CIEP2021
✅ Be constructive, objective, professional
✅ Focus on reader, not writer
✅ Provide suggestions for alternatives
✅ Share resources for further reading
(IMO: Apply to all types of feedback/edits. Making these a habit of the process is key.)
9/ #CIEP2021
How to make this part of the process?
✅ Set expectations w/ clients
✅ Incorporate feedback in editorial reports
✅ Flag issues using MS comments
✅ Refer to specialist editors/authenticity readers
Customise process to needs of a project. 10/ #CIEP2021
✅ Set expectations w/ clients
✅ Incorporate feedback in editorial reports
✅ Flag issues using MS comments
✅ Refer to specialist editors/authenticity readers
Customise process to needs of a project. 10/ #CIEP2021
Dealing w/ resistance
💡Acknowledge clients don't have to accept feedback
💡Frame feedback as providing info as preliminary reader
💡Discuss why writers should care
11/ #CIEP2021
💡Acknowledge clients don't have to accept feedback
💡Frame feedback as providing info as preliminary reader
💡Discuss why writers should care
11/ #CIEP2021
IMO: don't be afraid to discuss stuff that makes *you* uncomfortable. Shows support and makes it easier for the writer to talk about the same things. Connecting w/ people is the best way of learning and growing together. 12/ #CIEP2021
Q&A
💡Tone-policing? Need to be civil, calm etc? Goal is to make people uncomfortable. Can be difficult to moderate in communal spaces, but important to ask why were uncomfortable with something. #CIEP2021 #ConsciousLanguage
💡Tone-policing? Need to be civil, calm etc? Goal is to make people uncomfortable. Can be difficult to moderate in communal spaces, but important to ask why were uncomfortable with something. #CIEP2021 #ConsciousLanguage
💡Can you argue the meaning of words such as tribe is evolving? How do you know when language needs to be changed and when it is evolving?
No right or wrong here. Try to ask and engage w/ the people affected, encourage discussion. Learn, grow. Unlearn. Relearn. Repeat. #CIEP2021
No right or wrong here. Try to ask and engage w/ the people affected, encourage discussion. Learn, grow. Unlearn. Relearn. Repeat. #CIEP2021
Thank you, Crystal, for another empowering session. If you haven't already, check out @redpenrabbit's Conscious Language guides for editors and for writers (rabbitwitharedpen.com/shop). #CIEP2021
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