"Guys" has evolved largely in the direction of a gender neutral greeting at least in this neck of the woods. Example from my professional life: "Guys, we have a 30 minute time slot to resolve this issue so let's get this meeting started." Most meetings I attend are a mix of participants of both genders. (90% +)
Maybe it is a cultural thing, "friendly" general comes without further repercussions whereas the unfriendly warning or reminder results in being written up or worse escorted to the door.
I find "woke" to be annoying. Perhaps it is intended to be sarcasm. But what of the "good people" who can't be described as "woke"? Are they asleep or maybe inferior in some way?
I was brought up to understand that statements like "Good will to all men" is gender neutral, and the meaning is context based for similar statements. Gender neutral wasn't a common term but it's been introduced via the internet.
It doesn't sit well. Is it misunderstanding, misplaced anger or is someone trying to create an issue where there wasn't one?
It doesn't sit well. Is it misunderstanding, misplaced anger or is someone trying to create an issue where there wasn't one?
Unlike the Academie Francaise and its protective stance over French language and culture there is no one official organization watching over the evolution of the English language which I think is a good thing. How many of you grumpy old men 🤣 understand and can speak Elizabethan English? (I can't!!) Aren't you glad the language has evolved beyond the lexicon and grammatical structure of nearly 500 years ago? It will continue to change and there is nothing we can do about it. 😀
The term gender neutral certainly isn't a new term, I was aware of it as a teen 50 years ago. Likely a term coined in psychology circles and/or the women's liberation movement which was extremely active in the 1960s. It can be applied in many contexts.
The term gender neutral certainly isn't a new term, I was aware of it as a teen 50 years ago. Likely a term coined in psychology circles and/or the women's liberation movement which was extremely active in the 1960s. It can be applied in many contexts.
Talking about gender, I'm always amused to read on this site the declination of the speaker as an object, which should be treated as neutral, but often it's a she or he.
It’s used as an insult by one group towards a perceived cultural enemy and as bait by the latter to the former. Such is modern life.
It is predominant in anglosaxon countries and it is not exactly an improvement. When form and possibly maybe the possibility exists to step on someones toes are more important than the function of language itself. The intended goal works the opposite in reality as now many try to find ways to feel offended. Or worse: to find ways of other groups that might feel offended. Thinking for others so to speak. It is all attention seeking and pathetic. If words or the way with words are more important than actions we are heading in the wrong direction.
Of course we copy the stupidity and can not use the female words for driver, director etc anymore so now everyone is adressed to as a male. This in languages that are (contrary to english) built on male, female and neutral distinction 😉
I am sorry if you feel offended guys, eh gals, eh people.
Of course we copy the stupidity and can not use the female words for driver, director etc anymore so now everyone is adressed to as a male. This in languages that are (contrary to english) built on male, female and neutral distinction 😉
I am sorry if you feel offended guys, eh gals, eh people.
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Now why do I have to begin a formal letter with "Gentlemen" or "Dear Sirs"? The first person reading it will be the secretary (secretarin?) of Mr/Ms Director...
"Dear Sir or Madam" is a respectful way to address the reader without making gender or identity assumptions.
It is wrong to put an "s" after Sir or Madam.
It is wrong to put an "s" after Sir or Madam.
We used (in Dutch) the originally French word chauffeur for a male driver and we used chauffeuse for a female driver. Now both are chauffeur because of this woke/gender policor hype. We had directeur and directrice now both directeur (director/CEO). Acteur and actrice etc. To make it even more ridiculous we now see constructions like "the female director that...." 🙂
In many languages there is distinction for male, female and neutral. It is like that in many roman languages too and in French and German it is the single largest difficulty by far to speak the language correctly. The complete structure of such languages is built on that framework. So adopting to gender neutral policor word play stuff hampers correct usage of language. It feels very wrong to call a female school director a directeur. Oddly enough many medical professions are still in the old male/female style. In the past not using the correct gender was a sign of disrespect!
In many languages there is distinction for male, female and neutral. It is like that in many roman languages too and in French and German it is the single largest difficulty by far to speak the language correctly. The complete structure of such languages is built on that framework. So adopting to gender neutral policor word play stuff hampers correct usage of language. It feels very wrong to call a female school director a directeur. Oddly enough many medical professions are still in the old male/female style. In the past not using the correct gender was a sign of disrespect!
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