Edit: thank you for your comments, folks. I have my answers and appreciate you all’s help.
I’m writing a story with a character with dwarfism, but fantasy-style dwarves already exist in this world so I’d like another word for her.
I may change it though because idk much about dwarfism and don’t wanna risk her falling into any disrespectful stereotypes I’m not aware of.
In dutch we called mini-golf midget-golf. The first time I used that term abroad people looked at me as if I was insane. Slurs are very country- and context dependent, but for a wider audience it is always best to avoid them.
Depends heavily where you are and what community your part of. Some consider midget to be equal to nigger. While others consider dwarf to be the bad. Over all midget is generally more prevalent as the term considered to be frowned on. But it is far far from universal.
As far as a fantasy world is concerned, if your setting has dwarfs then you likely should consider half breeds and how the culture would segment between humans and dwarfs. How they mesh together. And how abnormally short humans or tall dwarfs would be seen as out liers and how the lack of culture heritage could cause them strife or acceptance from the culture they most resemble.
Judging a book by its cover is a common problem for any group of people, and is the first step to over come in many fantasy stories. But proving the stereotype wrong you can flesh out characters, and show moral and social spectrums of gray. After all no peoples are black and white.
A abnormally short human could be seen as insultive to the dwarfs if he tries to integrate because he’s seen as a fake. Since he won’t have any true dwarven blood.
How he integrates into that society how it pushes back and how it eventually accepts or rejects him are all powerful themes and can mirror real life struggles to join a new community where you have no true roots.
Little person.
From what I’ve seen, there’s definately a vocal group of little people, that consider it a slur. What percentage of actual people with the condition that think it I have no idea
I can’t figure out what could be the word it is all about 🤨
New a creative author and “create” your own from your universe. Duh
The working word is “poytle” suggested by another, from my attempted portmanteau little+person=pertle. I like it and may use it.
Lilliputian
…
I meant to try cooking up something tied to their home. Are they from Poytlevania?
It’s a condition, not a race. I just wanted a word or phrase to use that didn’t have a negative connotation to it.
From birth or do they “catch” it?
I would think any setting where dwarves or halflings exist someone with dwarfism would probably be called a halfbreed or cursed or something else not exactly nice.
Little people would be my suggestion. Its simple, accurate.
Silly little guy.
