Person-First or Identity-First: Language Preferences and Effects on Social Perceptions of Disability

Disability language use shifts with changing social attitudes. While person-first language (PFL) emphasizes humanity, identity-first language (IFL) depicts disability as integral to one’s identity. This study of 238 participants aged 18–30 investigated language preferences and whether language type influences perceptions of identity centrality. Participants rated the importance of identity markers to a PFL- or IFL-framed subject and indicated whether PFL or IFL are preferable in conversation. Results show that perceptions are influenced by identity type (i.e., disability versus non-disability), but not by whether identity is framed with PFL or IFL. PFL is preferred for most disabilities, except for sensory disabilities, for which, along with non-disability-related identities (e.g., race), IFL is preferred. These findings suggest that, despite current social trends favouring PFL, PFL versus IFL framing may have little effect on perceptions of people with disability. Dispositional factors were not found to be strong predictors of language preference, suggesting that disability language and the conceptualization of disability may be shaped by social factors rather than by internal states. Thus, considering the preferences and experiences of disability communities when referencing disability may foster more meaningful change in how disability is conceptualized.