Policies

“Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes.”

― Desmond Tutu

‘Disadvantage’ by definition states, ‘an unfavourable circumstance or condition that reduces the chances of success or effectiveness.’

At CDA we flip the narrative; it is our intent to adequately describe, understand and look beyond circumstantial description.

As such, the term ‘Underserved’, (i.e. inadequately provided with a service or facility) is used, in the vein of linguistic relativity (Lucy, 1997) based on the work of Sapir (1949) and Whorf (1956).

References:

Lucy, J.A., (1997) Linguistic relativity. Annual Review of Anthropology, 26, pp.291–312. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.anthro.26.1.291 [Accessed 20 Jul. 2025].

Sapir, E. (1949) Selected Writings of Edward Sapir in Language, Culture and Personality. Edited by D. G. Mandelbaum. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Whorf, B.L. (1956) Language, Thought, and Reality: Selected Writings of Benjamin Lee Whorf. Edited by J.B. Carroll. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.