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From: iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Ivan A Derzhanski)
Subject: Re: International Language.
Message-ID: <D2LwrJ.6GM@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
Organization: Centre for Cognitive Science, Edinburgh, UK
References: <1995Jan8.181104.10649@midway.uchicago.edu> <3f78nd$g03@mother.usf.edu> <3feh4s$c69@scratchy.reed.edu>
Date: Wed, 18 Jan 1995 15:09:17 GMT
Lines: 19
Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.lang.translation:762 sci.lang:34513

Oh, and an anecdote, also on the subject of gender neutrality.

Last year I happened to read an article on Archi, one of the unwritten
Daghestanian languages, and it said there that in Archi one of the two
neuter genders (or, rather, some variant thereof) is used for human
beings of unknown sex or mixed groups.  I found that very interesting
and thought I'd nominate Archi for the World's Least Sexist Language.

A few hours later I met Jim Hurford and he mentioned, _a` propos_
nothing in particular, that he had identified the World's Most Sexist
Language, and that was Archi.  The rationale?  Well, it turns out that
Archi have two words for `head', one of which is used for the head of
a man and the other for the head of a woman or a lower animal.

-- 
`Don't know whit ye're bletherin aboot', said Peter.    (The Glasgow Gospel)
Ivan A Derzhanski (iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk, iad@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu)
* Centre for Cognitive Science,  2 Buccleuch Place,   Edinburgh EH8 9LW,  UK
* Cowan House E113, Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Pk Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5BD, UK
