ABSTRACT
M ost countries in Northern America and Europe have laws and regu-lations that defi ne what is appropriate or inappropriate language. Political correctness 1 embraces many different speech codes and refers to a wide variety of speech acts, ranging from blatantly offensive speech or hate speech to more subtle forms of discrimination such as the generic use of the masculine forms (e.g., fi reman) or of nouns rather than adjectives to describe social groups. In many countries, blatantly abusive language or hate speech is regulated by national laws, whereas the softer forms of discriminatory speech are generally subject to rules and regulations of organizations, such as political institutions (parliament, city governments), educational institutions (schools and universities), industry, media organizations, and professional organizations (such as the American Psychological Association, APA). Political correctness norms primarily aim at preventing abusive or discriminatory language, but in case of severe violations, individuals may face lawsuits and/or disciplinary actions.
