This article examines manifestations of anthropocentric beliefs about the status of animals as well as metaphors and comparisons that animalise human beings. It draws on Jerzy Bartmiński’s concept of the linguistic worldview, Martha Nussbaum’s notion of objectification, and research on dehumanisation to show how language reflects systems of values and conveys the status ascribed to both animals and humans. The paper highlights instances in which animals are denied subjectivity and humans are devalued through metaphors and comparisons that associate them with animality. It also discusses examples from everyday language that indicate a gradual evolution of social sensitivity, along with proposals to render facts about animals in language more accurately and objectively. The conclusions underscore the significance of reflecting on the role of language in shaping ethical attitudes and its potential to contribute to a redefinition of the moral community.
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