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The Forum > General Discussion > Help wanted with gender neutral language

Help wanted with gender neutral language

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Modern terms exist such as "you'll"

And as "she" includes "he", perhaps you could refer the the PM as "it"

For god's sake if this floats your boat, get a life.
Posted by Shadow Minister, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 9:56:15 AM
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Is this a reprise

Of 1970s gender silliness?

Does anyone care?
Posted by Shintaro, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 10:14:11 AM
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There is usually an alternative means of address which does not descend to inelegant usage , such as "gentlepersons "or "womyn ". For example , as in Court , referring to members of the jury instead of gentlemen of the jury . At a public gathering , call those present "audience members " or "fellow citizens ".
It is easy to ridicule gender neutral language , but the intent which underlies it is valid , recognising that women have a role other than as appendages of men .
Posted by jaylex, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 10:16:07 AM
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jaylex,
What is the independent role of a woman other than in a human society? Please explain!
Posted by Philo, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 10:24:38 AM
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The term "man" is a general term for homosapien and refers to a species and not a gender. Perhaps we should call woman "homo" meaning part of the human species.
Posted by Philo, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 10:29:25 AM
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Think back to any famous speech that made an impact on you. Do you remember the form of address (perhaps, "Friends, Romans, Countrymen," is an exception) or the words that were spoken? If something is done with style, "elan," panache - and has the power to move us - I bet very few of us would recall what forms of address was used. "The quality of mercy is not strained..." "Think not what your country can do for you..." The point that I'm trying to make is if you don't like
"Ladies and Gentlemen," et cetera, there's always alternatives you can come up with - all you have to do is use your imagination, and be creative. For example - instead of "swamp-thing," you could use -
"wetlands-challenged mutant." Instead of "Ladies and Gentlemen" you could (depending on the occasion) use:

Fellow Australians
Distinguished Visitors
Dear Friends
Dear Colleagues
Good Evening Folks
Distinguished Guests
Dear Parents
Hello Booklovers
Hello Australia
Hi Everyone
Hello Brighton

And so on... if gender is your problem - don't refer to it. Many people become too concerned with language - often our writers ape the
English way and look at our native language as if our words were river pebbles pushed forward and tumbled by another stream of influence, a babbling English brook and not a roiling, flood-rushed creek.
Posted by Lexi, Tuesday, 8 February 2011 10:32:12 AM
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