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From: harmon_c@h-sc1.UUCP (david harmon)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: A Small Victory; Not at All
Message-ID: <237@h-sc1.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 30-Mar-85 15:02:35 EST
Article-I.D.: h-sc1.237
Posted: Sat Mar 30 15:02:35 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 2-Apr-85 07:55:44 EST
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Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center
Lines: 28

> > Ed Hall: 
> > How, pray tell, does using the generic ``they'' make things ``more difficult
> > to understand''?  As a matter of fact, I find *less* ambiguity in its use,
> > since it clearly indicates that sex is unimportant, whereas the use of ``he''
> > always implies the possibility of restriction to males.  The use of ``they''
> > introduces a singular/plural ambiguity that is much less of a problem, since
> > context usually makes it quite unambiguous.
> > 
> > Ambiguity in language is *essential*--it allows us to point to those
> > elements of a statement which are important, and discard those which
> > are not.  As a tool of our thoughts, it influences how we form concepts,
> > and as the chief instrument of our social learning, it influences the
> > very structure of our society.
> Say what!!!! Ambiguous language does precisely the opposite. It prevents
> those with whom one communicates from understanding the important points of
> the communication, surely the opposite of the communicator's intentions.
> Unless one communicates with the intent of deceiving or otherwise not
> being understood, one should strive for as little ambiguity as possible
> (unless of course, one is a diplomat :-)
> 
I think the original poster meant "generality", not ambiguity.  The use of 
"they" promotes generality.  It also promotes ambiguity slightly, but I think
the trade is worth it.

> Marcel Simon

		Dave Harmon
		harvard!h-sc1!harmon.arpa (I think)