Thelma's parents ask her if she is going shopping at "Wal-Marts." Thelma is going shopping at one "Wal-Mart";"Wal-Mart" is the name of the store,but many people in the community refer to it as "Wal-Marts." When Thelma hears someone say "Wal-Marts" she assumes they are poor and have below-average intelligence.This assumption is an example of
A)phonemism.
B)bigotry.
C)dialectism.
D)linguicism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Thelma's assumption about people who use the term "Wal-Marts" is an example of linguicism, which is discrimination based on someone's language or dialect. It is not phonemism, which refers to discrimination based on the sound of someone's speech, or dialectism, which is discrimination based on someone's dialect. While Thelma's assumption could also be considered bigotry, linguicism is a more specific term for this type of discrimination.

Thelma's Parents Ask Her If She Is Going Shopping at "Wal-Marts