In accordance with recent reports from the LA Times, the American Psychiatric Association has officially published a new version of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.”

Although the connotation of a word plays an important role on how we perceive words that are communicated to us, these minor changes in terminology will not make much of a difference.

The disorder “mental retardation” has undergone a change in its name and is now referred to as “intellectual disability.” Other terms such as “gender identity disorder” are now known as “gender incongruence.”

The cause behind these changes is meant to diminish and ultimately place an end to the taunting and cruel teasing that appears to take place mostly in young children and adolescents from elementary to high school.

Many have noted the inappropriate use of the word “retard” and its negative effects on those who are referred to as that. But the question now is, will it really terminate this taunting for good?

Children and others are always inventing new words or utilizing old terms to insult or offend others. Just because it is a new word it does not signify that it will not have either the same, or inflict even more, harm than intended.

What the experts have failed to recognize are the consequences of changing the names. These new terms can be added to the long list of crude offenses. Experts have failed to confront that insults are, unfortunately, a custom in our society.

This radical change of obliterating the use of neglectful and afflictive words is not something that will take place overnight.

Instead of fumbling with words, we should be promoting acceptance of others who appear to be “different.”

Also, we need to place less emphasis on these terms, for the more attention we devote to them, the more appealing it will appear to the younger community.

It implies a certain negative force, and being a force, it makes a statement of power, that many of us want and feel comfortable having.

Therefore, changing the name will not terminate the usage of insults for good.