Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site celerity.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc6!celerity!ps 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) uucp : {decvax!ucbvax || ihnp4 || philabs}!sdcsvax!celerity!ps arpa : sdcsvax!celerity!ps@nosc