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Marni works with kids and she has heard them call one another “retarded.” Mentally disabled people are sometimes called “retarded,” but it’s not a nice thing to call them. It can also be hurtful to mentally disabled people when non-disabled people use the word “retarded” as an insult.

Mason says that he used to say “retarded” and that he doesn’t think there’s any way to stop people from saying it. He also doesn’t think it’s necessarily all that bad of a thing to say. He mentions a scene in the movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin in which two characters make a series of jokes beginning with “You know how I can tell you’re gay?” Mason says the scene is funny even though frat boys often use “gay” as an insult, which many homosexual people find offensive.

Marni reminds Mason that terms like “retarded” and “gay” refer to people and that we should be careful not to use them as insults. Plus, it’s almost never appropriate to say “retarded.” “Developmentally disabled” and “mentally disabled” are more acceptable.

Mason says that he thinks terms like “developmentally disabled” are worse than “retarded” because it’s clear that you’re going out of way to be careful. Marni completely disagrees.

Do you ever hear people say “retarded” or “gay” as insults? Does it upset you?

“Jumping through hoops,” “stepping on eggshells,” and “going out of your way” are all phrases that mean doing something you wouldn’t normally do because of special, sensitive circumstances. More specifically, “stepping on eggshells” means being very careful not to offend. You can imagine how carefully you would have to walk if you were walking on eggshells.

Also notice how Mason adds “ish” at the end of “slang.” Here’s a lesson an English, baby! member wrote about adding “ish” at the end of words. Did you know you can make your own lessons now? It’s easy. Click here

To get the exam which belong to the above lessone follow this link

http://www.englishclub.com/daily-lesson.htm