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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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...is too sweeping.Who says there's anything wrong with picking nits? Conceptual detection, on the other hand... ------------------ Who knows, if equality was achieved, would there still be a need for presidents- male, female or neuter ??But... but... but... we ARE equal, which, of course, explains why, no matter *whom is in office, nobody "can't get no - satisfaction". 
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
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As is the line between insanity and genius, that between nitpickery and conceptual detection is exceeding thin.Granted, good sir. But just remember the old adage: You can't have your nit, and pick it too!And, Boby...you mean shona is exempt from twaddling!  (and just to show that I'm a worthy apprentice, Faldage, Sire...exceeding ly).
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
...exceedingly).
...but Juan, that changes the whole *meaning of the sentence.
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Posts: 1,773
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,773 |
lander, I too have often wished for a nongendered set of pronouns. I don't like to use the plural pronouns as substitutes when they are being used to signify a singular; I don't like the awkwardness of the he-or-she construction; I don't like the default of the singular masculine pronoun when the noun might be feminine, although I use it for lack of an alternative.
I have mentally substituted "che" for "he or she". It seems like one could similarly tweek him-or-her, his-or-hers. Herm and hez?
Good luck.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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changes the whole *meaning
Thank you, musick. You've given me a whole new understanding of the phrase passing strange. I stick by my usage.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204 |
It is only in writing that it really shows up, though.
I regularly talk to students about how they should deal with their tutors, and how they should consider who is the author of the bookk they are reading (this, in study skill classes), As both authors and tutors come in any possible variety of genders, I regularly refer to he-or-she, him-or-her-, his-or-hers in my lectures and never see any adversxe reaction from my audience (and this is often in groups as small as six or eight, where body-language feedback is very apparent.)
However, I do agree that in written language, it is obtrusive, if so written. As shona says, a little thought will permit you to write these things in reasonably smooth English, most of the time.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
And there was a practice adopted for awhile, and still in use by some non-fiction authors, to use he/him and she/her intermittently in whole sections of the text, pointing this out to the reader in the prologue as being done in "the interests of fairness". But this practice always seemed awkward and heavy-handed to me. Now, it seems, this gender-doubling of pronouns has largely faded from use. And BTW...third person or third perdaughter?
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
I agree with Rhuby and the moll from Michigan that the awkwardness caused by a lack of non-specific pronouns is most apparent in writing. Well, when you're trying to be PC, that is. When I was lecturing I tried a number of approaches. The one I found worked the best for me was to spread it 50/50 between "his" and "her".
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Oct 2000
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
...you mean shona is exempt from twaddling! But of course, Juanage. I never get sidetracked or veer away from the thread's true purpose, especially in Q&A [innocence] I'm a North-going Zax, make North-going tracks..Well..  It's a fair cop. Cuff me, Danno. As a form of atonement, please allow me to promote the Spartan use of invented PC terms for 3rd-person singular. Let's have a little competition. 
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 9
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 9 |
I agree that there is a substantial biological and cultural dimension to this. It would seem that in all language groups, distinguishing between male and female when referring to persons is important, if not critical.
As to manufactured words, I guess we'll have to take Shakespeare to task... eponymous unum =;-]
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