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From: ps@celerity.UUCP (Pat Shanahan)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Non-sexist language (historical)
Message-ID: <300@celerity.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 1-Jul-85 16:48:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: celerity.300
Posted: Mon Jul  1 16:48:14 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 04:51:13 EDT
References: <374@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA>
Organization: Celerity Computing, San Diego, Ca.
Lines: 33

...
>
> Unfortunately, the problem with dictionaries in general is that they will
> list a common usage of the word, even if it is not correct.  You'll notice
> that all the quotes are the second or third meaning, no the first.
> 
> Problem with the quotes from the "notables" is that they don't necessarily
> use correct English, even for the time period.  (Do you ever say "Zounds!"?)
> In fact, all the notables you mention are from at least 100 years ago, most
> from much further back.  
> 
> It may have been correct back then to use the term, but now, it is just the
> sign that you want to show that you are not a MCP (or if a female, that you
> are a feminist).  The other possibility is that you don't speak English
> well.
> 
> A main problem facing anybody that wants to introduce a new word, is that
> you can't change a language by decree.  If nobody likes a word or a phrase,
> no one will use it.  However, I don't what is wrong with using 'one'.
> 
> ----
>             Colin Rafferty { Math Department, Carnegie-Mellon University }
> 

How do you define "correct" English? You seem to have excluded common usage,
the writings of highly regarded authors, and decree. If none of these
defines the language, what does?

-- 
	ps
	(Pat Shanahan)
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