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From: thau@h-sc1.UUCP (robert thau)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: sexist language/bad attitudes
Message-ID: <236@h-sc1.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 30-Mar-85 14:11:53 EST
Article-I.D.: h-sc1.236
Posted: Sat Mar 30 14:11:53 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 2-Apr-85 07:54:59 EST
References: <824@druxo.UUCP> <269@mhuxr.UUCP> <825@druxo.UUCP>, <12080@watmath.UUCP> <544@hou5g.UUCP> <276@mhuxr.UUCP> <274@cel <282@mhuxr.U30 Mar 85 19:11:53 GMT
Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center
Lines: 34

> I suspect that the "grass roots" aspect of the singular 'they' movemment comes
> from confusion over whether expressions like 'each other', 'someone', etc,
> as in "if someone wants to do something then they should be allowed to do so,"
> are singular or plural. I don't think such expressions result from specific
> attempts at gender neutrality in the general vernacular.
> They are simply bad grammar. For people, like usenetters, who should know better,
> to compound the error by embracing it as a "solution" to the deep and serious
> problem of sexism in society is, in my opinion, far worse. What I oppose
> here is not just the continued emasculation of the language, but the
> notion that the singular 'they' will *by itself* have the slightest effect
> over people's attitudes.

Marcel, do you offer devotions to your outdated grammar books every night?
There is no English Academy, (and even if there were, Americans would ignore
it) which is one reason French is nowadays importing words from English,
rather than the other way around.

Conventional grammar is just that, a convention, and if conventions have to
change to fit the times, so be it.  Shakespeare did very well with multiple
negatives (up to quintuple), the second person singular, and so forth; none
of this is considered "correct" today, although we still recognize that
Shakespeare wrote quite beautifully.  "They" is evolving into a gender-neutral
pronoun, perhaps in just the way you suggest.  What's wrong with that?

A gender-neutral pronoun does not necessarily make the language less
forceful, less succinct, or less beautiful in the hands of a competent writer.
(Why on earth did you find it necessary to use the word "emasculate"?)
Usage of "they" might not be endorsed by all the style books yet, so wait
20 years.  You'll feel a lot better.  Trust me.

Your friendly neighborhood scratched record
Robert Thau
rst@tardis.ARPA
h-sc1%thau@harvard.ARPA