Thought for the week: Jane Herd says it like it is

‘I wish to bring to Friends’ attention a particularly heinous offence against careful language.’

by Jane Herd 20th November 2020

I have become somewhat preoccupied recently by how we use language (both verbally and in writing) and what we are really communicating and saying. Quakers have a long history of being careful about how we use language, and of understanding the weight that words and phrases have. This goes back to the plain speech of early Friends, who took care to value each other and champion equality by challenging the hierarchical language of the day.