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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
"man" gendered
I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use "spokeswoman" "chairwoman" etc in preference to spokesman, chairman etc.
In purely etymological terms the "man" refers to "manager" but of course current context involves most speakers assuming that this refers to the sex of the person with the title, and this in turn is an issue of wider significance. Perception can be reality in some cases.
Wondering
Chrissy
In purely etymological terms the "man" refers to "manager" but of course current context involves most speakers assuming that this refers to the sex of the person with the title, and this in turn is an issue of wider significance. Perception can be reality in some cases.
Wondering
Chrissy
Top answer
[nq:1]I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use ... with the title, and this in turn is an issue of wider significance. [/nq] I don't like the gender-changing forms, nor do I like the gender-neutral forms.
- [nq:1]I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use ...
- with the title, and this in turn is an issue of wider significance.
- [/nq] I don't like the gender-changing forms, nor do I like the gender-neutral forms.
- I'm SURE this has all been beaten to death before, but I always thought that a simple spelling change could alleviate the problem.
- Just replace the "man" with "min" and redefine it to be gender-neutral.
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53 Answers
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[nq:1]I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use ... with the title, and this in turn is an issue of wider significance. Perception can be reality in some cases.[/nq]
I don't like the gender-changing forms, nor do I like the gender-neutral forms.
I'm SURE this has all been beaten to death before, but I always thought that a simple
I don't like the gender-changing forms, nor do I like the gender-neutral forms.
I'm SURE this has all been beaten to death before, but I always thought that a simple
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[nq:1]I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use "spokeswoman" "chairwoman" etc in preference to spokesman, chairman etc. In purely etymological terms the "man" refers to "manager"[/nq]
Sorry, but the ending "-man" refers to man, from the Old English mann, meaning man.
Is someone going around saying it is an abbreviation of manager
Sorry, but the ending "-man" refers to man, from the Old English mann, meaning man.
Is someone going around saying it is an abbreviation of manager
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[nq:1]I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use "spokeswoman" "chairwoman" etc in preference to spokesman, chairman etc. In purely etymological terms the "man" refers to "manager"[/nq]
Say what?
Say what?
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-snip re: chair-whatever-
[nq:1]Just replace the "man" with "min" and redefine it to be gender-neutral. Chairman becomes chairmin. Spokesman becomes spokesmin and so on. I know it's not aesthetically pleasing, but it's better than chairperson.[/nq]
Honest question: in what way is an introduced form like "min" better than "person"? I really don't see the reason why it would be preferable: b
[nq:1]Just replace the "man" with "min" and redefine it to be gender-neutral. Chairman becomes chairmin. Spokesman becomes spokesmin and so on. I know it's not aesthetically pleasing, but it's better than chairperson.[/nq]
Honest question: in what way is an introduced form like "min" better than "person"? I really don't see the reason why it would be preferable: b
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[nq:1]I suppose this has come up before but I was wondering what people here thought of the tendency to use ... with the title, and this in turn is an issue of wider significance. Perception can be reality in some cases.[/nq]
Very much news to me that the 'man' in these words is related to manager. Perception is important for sure.
I think that, once you start using 'chairwoman' and 'spoke
Very much news to me that the 'man' in these words is related to manager. Perception is important for sure.
I think that, once you start using 'chairwoman' and 'spoke
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The inimitable Harvey Van Sickle (Email Removed) stated on 03 Sep 2003:
[nq:2]Just replace the "man" with "min" and redefine it to ... know it's not aesthetically pleasing, but it's better than chairperson.[/nq]
[nq:1]Honest question: in what way is an introduced form like "min" better than "person"? I really don't see the reason why it would be preferable: both forms are introduced to avo
[nq:2]Just replace the "man" with "min" and redefine it to ... know it's not aesthetically pleasing, but it's better than chairperson.[/nq]
[nq:1]Honest question: in what way is an introduced form like "min" better than "person"? I really don't see the reason why it would be preferable: both forms are introduced to avo
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[nq:1]A third way is to seek new terminology. In the later stages of my Union involvement, it became common practice ... as 'The Chair'. 'Will the Chair permit an amendment here ...' etc. 'Thank you, Chair, for giving me this opportunity.[/nq]
The snag with this approach is what to call the person who takes over in the absence of the normal leader. I hold that position in one committee, and I
The snag with this approach is what to call the person who takes over in the absence of the normal leader. I hold that position in one committee, and I
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X-No-Archive: yes
[nq:2]I suppose this has come up before but I was ... use "spokeswoman" "chairwoman" etc in preference to spokesman, chairman etc.[/nq]
[nq:1]Too late. The Canadian national museum of anthropology and history was for decades called the Museum of Man (probably borrowing ... became the Museum of Civilization. Hostility to the word man was at the time acknowledged as one of
[nq:2]I suppose this has come up before but I was ... use "spokeswoman" "chairwoman" etc in preference to spokesman, chairman etc.[/nq]
[nq:1]Too late. The Canadian national museum of anthropology and history was for decades called the Museum of Man (probably borrowing ... became the Museum of Civilization. Hostility to the word man was at the time acknowledged as one of
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[nq:2]I suppose this has come up before but I was ... etc. In purely etymological terms the "man" refers to "manager"[/nq]
[nq:1]Sorry, but the ending "-man" refers to man, from the Old English mann, meaning man. Is someone going around saying it is an abbreviation of manager? That comes from the Latin manus, meaning hand.[/nq]
Is that so? Hmm, I'll have to go back home and complain. I was
[nq:1]Sorry, but the ending "-man" refers to man, from the Old English mann, meaning man. Is someone going around saying it is an abbreviation of manager? That comes from the Latin manus, meaning hand.[/nq]
Is that so? Hmm, I'll have to go back home and complain. I was
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[nq:1]I don't like the gender-changing forms, nor do I like the gender-neutral forms. I'm SURE this has all been beaten ... for "man-hole cover", but neither does "person hole cover". Access hole cover or something like that will have to do.[/nq]
I'm quite happy with "chair" and "access point/void space" + cover. Spokesperson could be speaker or representative.
Chrissy
I'm quite happy with "chair" and "access point/void space" + cover. Spokesperson could be speaker or representative.
Chrissy
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