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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Etymology of 'History' #3416 06/13/2000 4:18 PM Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 1 Chicago, IL velvetviking stranger velvetviking stranger Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 1 Chicago, IL Ok, anyone want to help in some small way to combat the rampant PC-ism raging on college campuses these days? I just got an email from a friend that detailed a list of words being banned by Stockport College as sexist, racist, or offensive to the handicapped or otherwise impaired. One of the words (drum roll please) was 'history'. 'History'?! I ask you, did these decision-makers take one moment to contemplate that this word has origins (I suspect from 'histoire' in French) in ANOTHER LANGUAGE? I'm looking for someone to give me specific, accurate, and thorough information on the etymology of this word. I'm going to grace Stockport College with a small letter. . . Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymology of 'History' #3417 06/13/2000 5:50 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass history comes from the Greek (and Latin) historia and has nothing whatever to do with "his story" (except in the eyes of the beholder). Is 'female' on the list too, as it contains the word 'male'? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymology of 'History' #3418 06/13/2000 6:50 PM Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 Auckland, New Zealand David108 member David108 member Joined: May 2000 Posts: 112 Auckland, New Zealand I was amused to read an article about this in a South African newspaper. Here's the URL: http://www.iol.co.za/news/newsview.php3?click_id=79&art_id=qw960825781742B216&set_id=1 I agree with your sentiments, velvetviking - this PC thing is really becoming a matter for ridicule - do you know anybody who lives on the Isle of Person, or who can recite "The Seven Ages of Person"? Are we to become (headscratching, here) huperson beings? What about the British system of titles - that should be next. I predict that some PC recipient of a Queen's (Monarch's) birthday honours list will seek a way to be titled, in a gender non-specific way. By the way - can anybody tell me where to get lessons on playing the persondolin, and how do I get my fingernails personicured? MANifestly risible! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymology of 'History' #3419 06/14/2000 2:30 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 jmh Pooh-Bah jmh Pooh-Bah Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,981 Surely this is a joke that has been blown up by the press. It is just like when it was said that the GLC (Greater London Council under our own dear Ken) was alleged to have said that you could not by a black coffeee, use black boards or sing "Ba ba black sheep". Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymology of 'History' #3420 06/14/2000 5:28 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass here's one, coined by columnist Ellen Goodman, which seems somehow appropos: strawperson... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: Etymology of 'History' #3421 06/15/2000 1:28 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York I've asked the folks at http://urbanlegends.com/ to check it out. Meanwhile, where/what is Stockport College? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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