The bigotry behind the word ‘retard’

Professor and author Christopher M. Fairman [“The case against banning the word ‘retard,’ ” Outlook, Feb. 14] made good arguments about the limits of language to effect change in behavior and attitude, as well as about the nuanced ways in which words such as “retard,” “queer” and “gay” can carry multiple meanings, some of which intend no insult or humiliation.