Political Correctness

Political Correctness “Geoffrey Hughes has brought together with great panache the very many manifestations of political correctness, both absurd and vicious, and shown how they express a single collective mind-set. His book establishes beyond doubt that there is such a phenomenon, that it has become dominant in our culture, and that it represents a growing tendency to censor public debate and to prevent people from questioning orthodoxies which we all know to be false.” Roger Scruton, American Enterprise Institute “What a joy this book is! Hughes’ study traces, with unflagging zest, the modern history of PC. Sumptuous in data, in judgment precise, this is the latest and fullest of Hughes’ series on the social history of language.” Walter Nash, Professor Emeritus, University of Nottingham Political Correctness is now an everyday phrase and part of the modern mindset. Everyone thinks they know what it means, but its own meaning constantly shifts. Its surprising origins have led to it becoming integrated into contemporary culture in ways that are both idealistic and ridiculous. Originally grounded in respect for difference and sensitivity to suffering, it has often become a distraction and even a silencer of genuine issues, provoking satire and parody. In this carefully researched, thought-provoking book, Geoffrey Hughes examines the trajectory of political correctness and its impact on public life. Exploring the origins, progress, content, and style of PC, Hughes’ journey leads us through authors as diverse as Chaucer, Shakespeare and Swift; Philip Larkin, David Mamet, and J.M. Coetzee; from nursery rhymes to Spike Lee films. Focusing on the historical, semantic, and cultural aspects of political correctness, this outstanding and unique work will intrigue anyone interested in this ongoing debate.

Preface viii Acknowledgments xii Epigraphs xiii Part I Political Correctness and its Origins 1 Chapter 1 Defining Political Correctness 3 Chapter 2 The Origins and the Debate 60 Part II The Semantic Aspect 85 Chapter 3 Words and Authorities: Dictionaries and Lexicographers 87 Chapter 4 The Evolution of the Word Field 106 Part III Zones of Controversy 113 Chapter 5 Issues of Race, Nationality, and Difference 115 Chapter 6 Agendas Old and New 178 Part IV Cultural and Historical Issues 215 Chapter 7 Political Correctness in the Past 217 Chapter 8 Culture 236 Conclusion: The Right Thing to Do? Progressive Orthodoxy, Empty Convention or Double Standard? 283 Bibliography 298 Author and Subject Index 309 Word Index 317