Students enrolled in English Language classes at the University of York have been sent trigger warnings.
In the language and linguistic science department, there are ‘content warnings’ for ‘insults’ and swear words, as well as ‘content warnings’ on courses.
The Russell Group University’s policy warns students about ‘verbal abuse, spoken and written threats’ that may occur in their course.
Additional trigger warnings for crime, death, “hateful language,” miscarriages, abortion, and “transphobic language/behavior” appear before module webpages, videos, course summaries, specific lectures, and before “upsetting,” “distressing,” “difficult,” or “troubling” materials are shown during educational courses.
Professor Frank Furedi of the University of Kent, who specializes in sociology and “linguistic engineering,” said the trigger warnings are “part of a process of converting pupils into patients.”
‘The presumption is that kids need to be protected from anything that is even remotely outside the norm with some type of therapy intervention,’ he told The Telegraph.
‘This subject deals with language as it is used by real speakers and writers in real-world settings,’ said another warning.
‘Many of the language patterns we’ll encounter in this subject are taboo phrases (slurs, insults, swear words, slang terms, and so on) that have the potential to offend.
‘At other times, it is the context in which the language was created, rather than the language itself, that is disagreeable or disturbing.’ Sometimes it’s both at the same time.”
Students at the prestigious university can also leave classes if they are disturbed by’sensitive content.’
‘However, this year will be virtually entirely given online,’ says the report.
‘When offering a verbal content warning, give a suitable time gap between the warning and presenting the topic,’ the University of York advises lecturers.
‘Let students know that they can leave the session at any time if they need to,’ they are also told.
‘Caution: the paper contains content connected to the investigation and prosecution of a huge number of murders and sexual offenses, and there is a risk that you may find some of it disturbing,’ says an exam paper from the language department.
‘Trigger warnings essentially constitute a type of linguistic engineering,’ revealed Professor Frank Furedi, ‘using trigger warnings as a manner of re-engineering what your pupils should say or react to words.’
‘It’s a very subtle process to govern and try to control people’s ability to communicate.’ It’s a type of linguistic quarantine, even if it’s well-intentioned.’
Before picking a’ mummification’ subject, archaeology students at the same college were cautioned about dead corpses and skeletons.