From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!uwvax!jon
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Title: sexless words
Article-I.D.: uwvax.469
Posted: Wed Jul  7 14:38:39 1982
Received: Thu Jul  8 01:36:20 1982

I would prefer to see Laura's decree (that 'man' is strictly neuter)
take effect, than see 'chairperson,' 'fireperson,' etc.
People who are currently refered to as 'men' could be refered to as 'males'
without great difficulty.  This change would preserve an important
consideration: short words. No word is replaced with a longer one.
(Of course, politicians are busily lengthening words all the time,
but the I still think short words are better)

Of course,  the option that will succeed is one which is already
taking place: replacement of -man words with something completely different.
mailman     = letter carrier
fireman     = firefighter
stewardess  = flight attendant
waitress    = server (this one I hate)
Again, we see the addition of syllables in making the change,
but at least the words aren't as ugly. Maybe once the terms are entrenched,
natural linguist processes will shorten them
   firefighter --> fireter
   flight attendant --> hey, you!
   letter carrier --> computer