This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Steer, M. Articles by Gale, G. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Blindness and social meaning: The baleful tale of Blind Freddy

Renwick College, Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children and, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australiamike.steer{at}RIDBC.org.au

Gillian Gale

Renwick College, Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children and, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

The widely used Australian expression ‘Blind Freddy could see that’ is proposed as an exemplar of the terms blind and blindness in conveying social meaning. Examples of the expression's popular use are presented, and the extraordinary origin of the term explored. It is concluded that the expression should cease to exist, and that the challenge of promoting ‘people-first’ language as its replacement should lie primarily with: (a) Australians who are themselves blind or significantly vision impaired; and (b) with individuals and organizations who identify with the aims and aspirations of those who are sight impaired.

British Journal of Visual Impairment, Vol. 24, No. 1, 34-36 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0264619606060034


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?