Trevor Ng
The word cripple is considered offensive when used to refer to a person with a disability. The word was recorded as early as 950 AD and is derived from the Proto-Germanic krupilaz. While the term is generally considered pejorative, members of the disability rights movement have reclaimed it, along with other words such as gimp, to refer to themselves. The word has also been used to describe a goods wagon or passenger coach that is safe to run on the railway but requires repairs before entering service. When used in phrases such as the tax rate hike crippled the economy, the word does not carry the same offensive weight as it does when used in reference to a person with a disability.
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What You'll Learn
The historical context of the word 'cripple'
The word "cripple" is defined as a person or animal with a physical disability, especially one who is unable to walk due to an injury or illness. The word has been recorded as early as 950 AD, deriving from the Proto-Germanic "krupilaz". The German and Dutch words "Krüppel" and "kreupel" are cognates.
By the 1970s, the term "cripple" was generally considered pejorative when applied to people with disabilities. The word is also used as a transitive verb, meaning "to cause a disability or inability", and as an adjective, as in the phrase "crippling inflation".
Despite its negative connotations, members of the disability rights movement have reclaimed words like "cripple", "crip", and "gimp" as a way to confront established disability assistance and denounce human rights abuses in nursing homes and psychiatric hospitals. The Crips street gang, allegedly formed in 1969, is said to have originated when members carried canes, giving the impression of being disabled.
The word "cripple" has a long history in the English language, with the Middle English form "cripel" and Old English form "crypel" or "crepel", meaning a covered or underground passageway. The word may also be related to the Old English verb "crēopan", meaning "to creep".
The historical context of the word "cripple" is further evident in London's Cripplegate, which may have Anglo-Saxon origins, and St. Giles-without-Cripplegate, a church named after the patron saint of cripples.
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The word's cognates in German and Dutch
The term "golfing cripple" was not found during the search. However, I did find information on cognates in German and Dutch.
German and Dutch share many words that are cognates, meaning they are similar in both languages and have a shared root in their mother language. For example, the German word "alt" and the Dutch word "oud" are both very similar to the English word "old". The same goes for "kalt" and "koud", which mean "cold" in English. In some cases, German consonants are "softened" in Dutch, as in the words "book" and "Buch", or "apple" and "Apfel". Dutch and German are more closely related to each other than they are to English. However, there are some instances where Dutch has developed more similarly to English, such as with the words for "moon" (maan/Mond) and "weather" (weer/Wetter).
The Scandinavian languages are the Northern branch of the Germanic language family. When the Vikings arrived in England around 800 CE, their language was still quite similar to English, and the two groups could largely understand each other. As a result, English grammar became more streamlined, with fewer exceptions than Dutch and German.
Frisian, a language spoken by a quarter of a million people in Holland and a few pockets in Germany and Denmark, is closely related to Old English. However, while English evolved with significant influence from the French language of the Norman invaders and the languages of the Vikings, Frisian was massively influenced by Dutch.
German and English also share many cognates, especially borrowings from Latin, French, and Greek. These words often have the same meaning, with only subtle differences in certain cases.
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The reappropriation of the word by the disability rights movement
The term "cripple" has been used to refer to a person or animal with a physical disability, specifically one that affects their ability to walk. The word, which was first recorded in 950 CE, is derived from the Proto-Germanic "krupilaz" and has cognates in both German ("Krüppel") and Dutch ("kreupel"). While the term was initially descriptive, by the 1970s it came to be seen as a pejorative term when used to refer to people with disabilities.
The disability rights movement, which gained momentum in the 1960s, sought to create a sense of disability pride and challenged the negative attitudes and shame associated with disabilities. As a result, some members of the disability community began to reclaim the terms "cripple", "crip" (slang for cripple), and "gimp". This reappropriation is similar to how the term "queer" has been reclaimed by the gay rights movement.
The Cripple Tribunal in Dortmund, Germany, on December 13, 1981, was one of the key protest actions of the autonomous German disability movement, highlighting human rights violations against disabled people. Within academia, the work of activist scholars like Mike Oliver contributed to the development of disability studies as a field of study, with crip theory exploring the experience of disability and the history of exclusion faced by the disability community.
The reclaiming of these terms is not universally accepted within the disability community. Some argue that it continues to position people with disabilities in relation to able-bodied people, potentially maintaining harmful views. Others object to the use of "crip" due to its proximity to "Crips", the name of a street gang, and the fact that "cripple" and "crip" are still used as slurs. Additionally, there are concerns that the reclamation is being driven by privileged individuals who may not represent the needs and wants of disadvantaged people with disabilities.
Despite these critiques, the terms "cripple" and "crip" have continued to be used by some within the disability community as a way to show pride, discuss disability rights, and avoid ranking different types of disabilities.
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The cripple tribunal in Dortmund
The Cripple Tribunal, held in Dortmund on December 13, 1981, was a significant event in the history of the German disability rights movement. It was a protest against human rights violations experienced by people with disabilities, particularly in relation to their confrontation with the established disability assistance framework. The tribunal was named "The Cripple Tribunal" to reclaim the word "cripple" and challenge its negative connotations, much like how the gay rights movement has reclaimed the word "queer".
The autonomous German disability movement aimed to bring attention to the injustices faced by disabled individuals and advocate for their rights. This tribunal was one of their main protest actions, and it played a crucial role in shedding light on the discrimination and ableism experienced by people with disabilities in Germany.
The choice of the word "cripple" as a form of self-identification by the disability rights movement carries a powerful message. By reclaiming this word, the movement sought to challenge the negative stereotypes and prejudices associated with disabilities. The term "cripple," originally derived from the Proto-Germanic "krupilaz," has a long history, with cognates in German and Dutch as "Krüppel" and "kreupel." While the term has been considered pejorative since the 1970s, the disability rights movement's act of reappropriation empowers individuals with disabilities and fosters a sense of community and shared identity.
The specific details of the tribunal, such as the number of attendees, the duration of the event, and the exact nature of the protests, are not readily available. However, the impact of this protest action is undeniable, as it shone a spotlight on the human rights violations experienced by people with disabilities and sparked conversations about ableism and discrimination within German society.
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The offensiveness of the word
The word "cripple" is generally considered offensive and ableist. The term is defined as a person or animal with a physical disability, particularly one who is unable to walk due to injury or illness. The word's origins can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic "krupilaz", with cognates in German and Dutch, "Krüppel" and "kreupel", respectively. While the term was once used as a pure identifier or descriptor, its modern usage and connotations are often negative and derogatory.
By the 1970s, the word "cripple" had become widely regarded as pejorative when applied to individuals with disabilities. The negative associations with the word have expanded over time, and it is now often used as a slur to demean and belittle those with disabilities. The term perpetuates the idea of the inferiority of disabled people and contributes to harmful stereotypes and biases.
Some members of the disability rights movement have attempted to reclaim the word, much like the gay rights movement's reclamation of the word "queer". They use terms like "cripple", "crip", and "gimp" as identifiers and unifiers within their community. However, this reclamation does not grant individuals outside the disability community the right to use these terms. It is important to respect the wishes of those within the community who find the word offensive and to choose alternative language when referring to disability.
While some argue that context matters and that the word can be used without malicious intent when not directed at specific individuals, others disagree. They argue that the word has such strong negative connotations that any usage can be triggering and offensive to those in the disability community. As such, it is generally recommended to avoid using the term "cripple" and to opt for more respectful and appropriate language when referring to disability.
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Frequently asked questions
A cripple is a person or animal with a physical disability, particularly one who is unable to walk because of an injury or illness.
The word was recorded as early as 950 AD and derives from the Proto-Germanic "krupilaz". The German and Dutch words "Krüppel" and "kreupel" are cognates.
By the 1970s, the word "cripple" generally came to be regarded as pejorative when used for people with disabilities. However, context matters, and members of the disability rights movement have reclaimed the word "cripple" to refer to themselves.
Using the word "cripple" to describe something that is not a person, such as an economy or a war effort, may still be considered offensive by some people, especially if used in the presence of someone with a disability.
Alternative terms to "cripple" include "disabled," "gimp," or "crip." However, some people may find certain terms more or less offensive than others, and it is important to respect individual preferences and use the term that an individual expresses they prefer.
