Language And The Animal Experience: Shifting To Compassionate Discourse

By: Jesika Keener, EdD

Author's Note: This post is adapted from a presentation I recently gave titled 'Language And The Animal Experience: Shifting To Compassionate Discourse.'

Have you ever stopped to think about how the words we use shape our relationship with the natural world?

Our daily language is filled with hidden messages about who matters and who doesn't. At the root of this is speciesism—cultural beliefs and practices that privilege humans and normalize the exploitation of other-than-human animals. Just as racism or sexism creates hierarchies between groups of humans, speciesism maintains a hierarchy between humans and fellow animals, and even between different species (elevating dogs and cats as companions while treating cows and chickens as commodities).

Understanding the weight of our words is the first step toward a more compassionate world.

Why Does Speciesism Matter?

Speciesism is not just a philosophical debate; it has real, planetary consequences. Humans have historically acted with a narrow-minded sense of superiority, believing we have the right to rule over and infinitely control nature.

This unchecked domination is backfiring. With our population exceeding eight billion, the way we exploit the natural world is a major contributor to:

• Unprecedented pressure on ecosystems worldwide.

• The global climate crisis.

• The mass extinction event happening right now.

A healthy planet depends on biodiversity. By deciding whose suffering is taken seriously and whose is acceptable, speciesism impacts our own survival.

The Power of Discourse and "Just Words"

Discourse is the use of language as a subconscious sense-making story. It communicates our values to the rest of the world, sometimes without us ever saying a word. For example, if you walk into a child’s classroom, you’ll probably find puzzles, toys, and other learning materials featuring the same small group of animals (like dogs, cats, and horses) that are cute and smiling. Conversely, animals like flies, mice, snakes, or rats are either omitted or depicted as scary or gross. These seemingly harmless design choices silently teach children which animals are lovable, which are interesting, and which are worthy of compassion. 

When it comes to the actual words we use, scholars point to the Theory of Linguistic Relativity. This theory suggests that the language we use doesn’t just label the world; it actively shapes how we perceive it. If language shapes thought, then changing our language can open up entirely new ways of thinking and acting.

How Speciesism Hides in Everyday Language

Many of us grew up absorbing phrases that portray fellow animals as objects or tools. Normalizing violent metaphors—like "kill two birds with one stone" or "be the guinea pig"—desensitizes us to violence and suffering.

Here is a breakdown of the most common ways speciesism appears in our daily speech:

Language Pattern	How It Works	Common Examples
Distancing	Creates emotional space between species by using terminology that stresses differences between humans and fellow animals.	Humans have "skin" and "live" somewhere; animals have "hide" and are "found" somewhere.
Metaphors	Phrases that create boundaries to shape how we think and reflect a human-centered view to reinforce a hierarchy between humans and fellow animals.	Using phrases that make fellow animals sound like machines, such as “animal production” or “factory farming.”
Animal Pejoratives	A type of metaphor that compares humans to fellow animals, intended as an insult to reinforce negative attitudes toward marginalized human groups.	Calling a woman a "pig" to demean her appearance while stereotyping both the woman and the animal.
Euphemisms	Replaces one idea with a softer one to hide uncomfortable truths.	"Wildlife management" (often masking the killing of animals or removing plants that humans see as inconvenient).
Semantic Reversal	Using positive-sounding words to celebrate human exploitation of other species.	"Purebred" (which actually refers to genetic manipulation and control).
Uncountable Nouns	Treating individual animals as one collective resource, erasing their individuality.	Referring to individual animals as "game."
Pronouns	Using grammatical defaults to obscure who is being talked about, reducing beings to objects.	Using "it" instead of "he," "she," or "they."

Steps to Shift Toward Compassionate Language

We have the power to change the narrative and influence the development of a kinder society. Here are practical ways you can start shifting your discourse today:

1. Notice your language: Start paying attention to the words you use, as well as the language in media, teaching materials, and organizational documents.

2. Experiment with alternative terms: Try using "other animals," "fellow animals," or "beings." (Note: While terms like "nonhuman" are popular, I find that the prefix "non" reinforces division and marks fellow animals as outsiders. Do what feels right for you though!) 

3. Rethink your pronouns: Practice using "she," "he," or "they" instead of "it" to challenge assumptions about who is worthy of sentient recognition.

4. Be thoughtful with idiom replacements: Replacing violent idioms with softer ones (like "free two birds from one cage") works wonderfully for children. However, use caution with adults; the replacement often still brings the original violent imagery subconsciously to mind.

Speciesism is embedded in the everyday language we use. By being intentional with our words, we take a vital step toward supporting more just relationships with our fellow animals.

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