Australian of the Year David Morrison is leading a drive against the use of the term "guys" in the workplace.

 

澳洲年度人物大卫·莫里森发起了一项运动，反对人们在工作场所使用guys（意思是家伙，男人）的称谓。
 

 

The #WordsAtWork campaign by the country's Diversity Council asks people to avoid expressions they say exclude minority groups.

 

Using "girls" for women, and "walk the talk" to people in wheelchairs, are among terms they say are offensive.

 

Mr Morrison was awarded the role of Australian of the Year partly for his equality campaigning.

 

The former military man - once chief of the Australian Army - admitted he had used some of the terms himself.

 

But of "guys" Mr Morrison said "I have now removed that from my lexicon¹ as best I can. I think it's important."

 

Insisting the campaign was not intended to create a "language police", he said: "People use language to denigrate² others and to take away their self-respect. Sometimes it happens unconsciously, but the effect is the same."

 

While some praised the inclusive language drive, not everyone agreed that "guys" was offensive, or that it was the most urgent problem that the Australian of the Year could be tackling.

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