Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!rochester!cmu-cs-pt!cmu-cs-edu1!rafferty From: rafferty@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA (Colin Rafferty) Newsgroups: net.women,net.nlang Subject: Re: Re: Non-sexist language (historical) Message-ID: <379@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA> Date: Sat, 22-Jun-85 06:46:53 EDT Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-e.379 Posted: Sat Jun 22 06:46:53 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 29-Jun-85 23:54:35 EDT Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI Lines: 36 Xref: watmath net.women:6151 net.nlang:3294 >> Unfortunately, the problem with dictionaries in general is that they will >> list a common usage of the word, even if it is not correct. >> > Horsefeathers! Who determines the standards of correctness? > "Correct" is what the "correct" people say, and who is considered > "correct" changes. > > The idea that dictionaries just record what people > use and not what is "correct" is an amusing one. Who > should the dictionary makers consult for the "correct" > usage? A dictionary? Your 9th grade English teacher? > William Safire? Language is used by people to communicate > with other people. It is the people who use it who give > a language its life and they are the final arbitrators > of what it is. > > Don Steiny - Computational Linguistics Standards must be kept up, or the language will be corrupted a million different ways. We need to keep words with distinct meaning distinct. I don't disagree with you about how the people create a language, I just think that the language should be kept "clean". Even if it means using non- standard usage. For example, I will use "y'all" when saying "you" wouldn't be specific enough. (When in a group, "See ____ later!") And I was born and raised in NYC (recent influence from Pgh, PA (P-U!)). By the way, I think Safire would be a good source of "correct" usage, although he is a little too conservative. ---- Colin Rafferty { Math Department, Carnegie-Mellon University } "I may not agree with your iedas, but I will defend to the death your right to speak them" -Thomas Jefferson