Why the Language We Use to Describe Animals Matters

When you deal with words, you are dealing with the mind. Language is a powerful source of communication. We use it to deliver a message, we use it to understand different cultures of different societies, we use it to learn new languages, and we use it to express thoughts and feelings. Language can also be a catalyst for positive social change. Until the 1970s, when the idea of “political correctness” in language came about, many groups within our society suffered at the hands of offensive language. They still do to an extent, but now, it is understood that using language to discriminate is rude and dishonorable. Language for gender, race, sexual orientation and class, is showing marked improvement, but what about the way we speak about animals? Is there a politically correct way to speak about our animal companions?

When“It” is Not an it

When referring to animals, most people use the phrase “it.” When we talk about our pets, we call ourselves “owners.” And even when we’re not talking about animals directly, our animal similes hold negative connotations. For instance, “eat like a pig,” “as fat as a cow,” “You sheep,” and so forth. The way forward is to start changing our vocabulary about animals.

Language alterations can create attitude alterations. When we talk about our dogs or our cats as “pets,” and ourselves as “owners,” it carries the connotation that these animals are our property and that we are dominators. Using this sort of language seems to condone the abuse inflicted on animals by their “owners” or justifies the use of animals as testing subjects.

While it might not seem like the biggest deal to some, these terms we use for animals can be a handicap for animal equality.  When we start speaking about the cat, the dog, the rabbit, the fish in our house as our friend rather than our property, we will see and treat them that way.

A Better Way to Talk About Animals

Referring to your cat or your dog as an “it” resembles the way you would talk about an object in the house. An object stripped of feelings or emotions. Animals are living creatures on this earth. They hear, they see and they feel. If your dog is a male, call him ‘he.’ If your cat is a female, call her “she.” The more you speak about them as an “it,” the more you will perceive them as emotionless objects.

We’re all guilty of calling ourselves animal “owners” from time to time. But, when you think about it, the term “owner” sounds quite severe. When you own something, you own a concrete, still object. For example, “he owns a car,” “she owns a house,” “they own a business.” Yet, we still continue to say that we are dog owners and cat owners. “I’m his owner,” connotes unquestioned dominance.

Surely, most of us don’t honestly see our dogs or cat in that way, we see them as our friends and companions, but the language we use does not reflect that. It makes more sense to replace “owner” with “guardian.” “Owner” comes with synonyms like “possessor,” whereas “guardian” comes with synonyms like “protector.” The former makes it sound like we view our companions as objects and property. The latter sounds more like we see them as beings that need looking after.

It’s all in the Linguistics

It is true that language functions in a number of ways, and one of the most important of these can be to create and empower social change. By taking the potential effects that using language that carries connotations of apathy and dominance into account, we can reinvent the way people talk about animals for the better.

If you keep calling your dog an “it” then you’ll fail to see that your dog is a he or a she – not an object in the palm of your hand. Keep calling yourself an “owner” and you’ll never see past your cat as being anything more than a piece of property. Our animal companions are our friends. They deserve to be treated like any other member of the family.

Of course, this shift in language takes time. We all have to check ourselves sometimes, but the important thing is that we understand the power our words can have and use them to convey a positive message whenever possible. No one is perfect, but we should all try and make a difference in any small way possible.

Remember that you think what you speak, and you speak what you think.

Image source: Mariano Szklanny/Wikimedia Commons