Changing the Way We Speak

Post written by VegBlogger. Follow me on Twitter.

Did you notice in yesterday's post I wrote that President Obama Dines on A Chicken at
 the Health Care Summit? I didn't write that he ate chicken, or opted for the chicken dish, instead I wrote that he dined on "a chicken."

Why did I do that? Because it conjures up a different image than simply saying he "ate chicken." Think about it - when you ask someone if they "eat chicken" they get an image of a fried chicken leg, nugget or chicken breast on a plate. Something that no longer represents the animal it once was.

But when you ask them if they "eat chickens" or if they are "eating a chicken" it makes them think of a bird walking around. Two totally different images, even though you have changed the words slightly.

Why not call things what they are or change it up just a bit in order to get people to think about what it is that they are really eating? When I refer to milk or cheese that comes from dairy, I always call it "cow milk" or "cow cheese." People over the years have thought it was kind of strange, but I think it is good to distinguish it, just as we do "soy milk" or "almond milk" or "soy cheese," and I like reminding them that it came from a cow.

I've even been known in conversation to call "ribs" a "rib cage," which always raises some eyebrows. When I'm talking to my sister and I know she is preparing chicken "breast" that night, I call it "chicken boobs."

It's just a slight change, but can go a long way toward putting a subtle message in someone's head. This is just one of the easy ways to help spread the message and get people to make the connection with animals and their food choices.

Comments

[Vibeke Vale]

I love that! I'm gonna start using it.

[Jacqueline]

Great, glad to hear it!

[Bea Elliott]

Great point! The same thing applies to "a lamb"... "a turkey"... or "pig meat". Strange though, if you attempt to be accurate in calling mammary secretions "cow's milk" you get the evil eye! But nothing is so "offensive" as the truthful word for "meat". Gosh! Calling flesh what it is - should be done with extreme caution.

Great post. Thanks for inviting comment. :)

[Jacqueline]

It is funny how saying "cow milk" raises some eyebrows. But that is what it should be called. We say soy, rice, hemp or almond milk, after all. If we call cow's milk simply "milk" we are saying that is the norm or standard in milk and all other variations are secondary. I don't believe that is the way is or should be. So I say cow milk! :)