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From: larung@rsv.svskt.se (Lars Unger)
Subject: Re: Non-Sexist Language Reform
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Message-ID: <1995Oct4.110709.11905@rsv.svskt.se>
Date: Wed, 4 Oct 1995 11:07:09 GMT
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In article <kenmayer-2709951907590001@pilsudski.wag.utexas.edu>, kenmayer@mail.utexas.edu (Ken Mayer) says:
>
>I'm teaching a class on the English Vocabulary and I want to do an
>excursus on sexist language and its reform, i.e. chairman-->chair,
>fireman-->firefighter, and extreme variants like history-->herstory,
>womyn, etc.
>
>I'd like to use comparative material from other languages.  
>
>German progressives use expressions like StudentInnen or even man/frau.
>
>What about French, other Romance languages, or other languages in
>general?  Have there been any proposals to change or modify them to make
>them gender neutral?
>
>Please respond to me or to the list.
>
>Ken Mayer
>Department of Classics
>University of Texas at Austin
>
>kenmayer@mail.utexas.edu
In Swedish we have the word 'ombudsman' as example of a word which 
can be attributed to both men and women. We also have the opposite,
i e a profession with a female ending, which can be used of a man too.
The word is sjuksyster (in German Krankenschwester, in English nurse). 
In literal translation the word in English would mean 'illness sister'.

Of course there has been discussions going on whether you should or not
let the titles absolutely follow the bearer's sex; mostly from the
feminists. Nowadays the discussions are much calmer and I don't think
anyone would severaly consider it appropriate to make a reform.

Other examples are lokfrare, konduktr, statstjnsteman a o (in
German Lokfhrer, Schaffner, Staatsbeamter etc) which refers to women
as well as men. As yet there has been few protests against it.

But, of course, if by politeness or not, when we talk about both sexes
in writing, we are often making a remark, just as you do in English,
saying "Instead of using he/she everywhere, with he we also mean she."

I don't know if it is true but I think that in one aspect the Finnish
language have got a solution for the problem of saying him and her.
The word 'hen' could be used to mean both of them.

Another example from Swedish is titles as ambassadr, general etc, which
formerly only was worn by men; (ambassadr = Embassador, general = 
General). Like the German -in/-innen for females you talked about
ambassadrska and generalska ('ska' beeing one of the suffixes for a
female person). But this 'ska' normally means wedded to an embassador
or a general. If she had the title of Embassador or General in Swedish
we still would use the male title, i e ambassadr and general.

Thinking further, however, what should you call the man to a female
ambassador? That question has to be answered too in out, thank goodness,
more a more emancipated society (yes I'm a man myself!!). Any sugges-
tions?

Lars Unger
Sweden
Not a linguist by still interested in languages.
What has been said is my personal opinion and has nothing to do
with my employer
