Newsgroups: sci.lang
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From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: Non-Sexist Language Reform - Esperanto
Message-ID: <elnaDG47J6.M5H@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <kenmayer-2709951907590001@pilsudski.wag.utexas.edu> <44s9db$ntf@news.netvision.net.il> <453nna$eq0@news.gate.net>
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 1995 05:35:30 GMT
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Sender: elna@netcom14.netcom.com

ffff@gate.net (Frank Pfaff) writes in a recent posting (reference <453nna$eq0@news.gate.net>):
>I started to learn Esperanto.  In my opinion the saddest failure in the 
>language is its rigid insistance that every female word is formed by adding
>the infix -in before the ending of the masculine word.  
>viro = man;  virino = woman
>knabo = boy;  knabino = girl
>
You err. A woman who teaches is named by the same noun in the same form
as a man who teaches.  Likewise for female doctors, actors, etc
Consider the German Lehrer/Lehrerin; French masseuse/masseur; 
English actor/actress.    None of these differences are necessary in
Esperanto.


>The language is fatally impoverished...IMHO :-)
>
"Fatally" is something of an overstatement! Do you recall the quip of Mark
Twain regarding the premature announcement of his death?


-- 
Miko SLOPER                   elna@netcom.com         USA  (510) 653 0998
Direktoro de la          ftp.netcom.com:/pub/el/elna   fax (510) 653 1468 
Centra Oficejo de la     Learn Esperanto! Free lessons: e-mail/snail-mail
Esperanto-Ligo de N.A.      Write to above address or call 1-800-828 5944
