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Old 05-10-2001, 08:03 AM   #19
Yorick
Very Mad Bird
 

Join Date: January 7, 2001
Location: Breukelen (over the river from New Amsterdam)
Age: 53
Posts: 9,246
Quote:
Originally posted by Moridin:
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
I've got a poblem with some of that stuff. All it ends up doing is adding words to a sentance and hinder communication. If I have a mental picture in my head that I wish to convey to say, you Moridin, then I have to now add words. If I am talking about an 'actress' I now must talk about a 'female actor'. A 'manhole' is now a 'maintainence access point' or something.

Oh well such is life. Just a little gripe.

It's interesting that the difference between MAN and woMAN (both containing the historically used name of the species) is a wo. Anyone know what the wo came from or means? Nothing to do with womb is it?

WOMBMAN?????

Same with MALE and feMALE.


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I am the walrus!.... er, no hang on....

A fair dinkum laughing Hyena!

[This message has been edited by Yorick (edited 05-10-2001).]
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