Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Non-native English speakers?!?

Moridin · 05-09-2001, 04:00 PM

I am having a problem! In the English language we have 'human being', 'man', and 'woman'. Throughout most of its history we have used the word 'man' to mean both 'human being' and 'adult male', but times are changing and we are starting to become more politically correct in our distinction (i.e. chairman to chairperson, postman to mail carrier). I am curious of two things

1) What are the words for 'human being', 'male or man', and 'female or woman' in your language (or for people like Cloudy who speak a second language what is it in the second or third language you speak)?
2) Do you use the masculine (i.e. man) as we do. Both as a gender neutral term and for only men? If you do, is it becoming a topic of debate and change in your country/language?

Thank you for your help!

------------------

It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear ignorant,
than open it and remove all doubt!

05-09-2001, 04:00 PM	#1
Moridin Fzoul Chembryl Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,735	I am having a problem! In the English language we have 'human being', 'man', and 'woman'. Throughout most of its history we have used the word 'man' to mean both 'human being' and 'adult male', but times are changing and we are starting to become more politically correct in our distinction (i.e. chairman to chairperson, postman to mail carrier). I am curious of two things 1) What are the words for 'human being', 'male or man', and 'female or woman' in your language (or for people like Cloudy who speak a second language what is it in the second or third language you speak)? 2) Do you use the masculine (i.e. man) as we do. Both as a gender neutral term and for only men? If you do, is it becoming a topic of debate and change in your country/language? Thank you for your help! ------------------ It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear ignorant, than open it and remove all doubt!