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From: ed@mtxinu.UUCP (Ed Gould)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: sexist language/bad attitudes
Message-ID: <354@mtxinu.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Apr-85 14:48:08 EST
Article-I.D.: mtxinu.354
Posted: Tue Apr 23 14:48:08 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 27-Apr-85 04:15:47 EST
References: mhuxr.276, <824@druxo.UUCP> <269@mhuxr.UUCP> <825@druxo.UUCP>, <12080@watmath.UU <12716@brunix.UUCP> <5234@tekecs.UUCP> <338@mt 23 Apr 85 19:48:08 GMT
Organization: mt Xinu, Berkeley, CA
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> But I would guess that programming languages are so much simpler that no
> conclusions regarding the relationship of natural languages to thought
> processes can be drawn from their study. And that is why I don't place
> much stock in someone's opinion on the subject *just because they are a
> well-known computer scientist*. (There - proper use of singular they!)
> But I would be happy to read informed, non-technical articles to the
> contrary, if anyone would care to reference or excerpt them.
> 
> 					Jeff Winslow

I'll check with my linguist friends for something reasonable in that
literature, and I'll check for some in the computer science literature.
(When I get a chance - I'm off for another whirlwind install-systems-and-
visit-customers trip.)

It may be true that programming languages are much simpler than natural
languages - in both syntax and semantics - but they're not really that
different in the way they affect people.

> PS. Why does the name of the original poster matter? I thought we were
>     dealing in ideas, not personalities (with a few notable exceptions
>     who shall remain blissfully nameless).

In some sense it doesn't, but since we're discussing ideas that have
been put forth by individuals, they should receive credit for those
ideas.  Context, i.e. what else that individual might have said on
the subject, can be relevant, too.  Personality isn't an issue at all.

-- 
Ed Gould		    mt Xinu, 739 Allston Way, Berkeley, CA  94710  USA
{ucbvax,decvax}!mtxinu!ed   +1 415 644 0146