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Could we possibly move this topic back to another NG? I feel that it is a rather
non-Lego subject and could be put into the off-topic.debate NG.
Matthew Miller writes:
> Jesse Long <LongJR97@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Proper English uses a masculine pronoun when there is an unknown person
> > involved, or requires the longer "he or she." If the unknown person
> > involved must be a female, then the use of the female pronoun is correct.
> > The politically correct, touchy-feely, kindler, gentler, "English for
> > Dummies" that is evolving would allow the gender-neutral plural "they" as an
> > acceptable substitute for a singular pronoun of unknown gender.
>
> I used to hate this. But, after taking several years of German, I feel a lot
> better. Why? I realized that German 'recycles' a lot of pronouns for various
> uses. For example, "sie" is "she", "they", and the formal "you". So I
> figure, why not allow "they" to be recycled in this way in English?
>
> While I think in general "politically correct" language gets ridiculous
> quickly, I can see the point in the case of using "he" when really not
> intending to specify gender. And the phrase "he or she" is too clumsy for
> common usuage -- and gets repetitive when used in writing.
>
> A lot of PC doublespeak has the intention of obscuring meaning. I'm opposed
> to that. Using 'they' as a gender-neutral singular pronoun, however, helps
> one say what one means in a concise and natural manner.
>
> --
> Matthew Miller ---> mattdm@mattdm.org
> Quotes 'R' Us ---> http://quotes-r-us.org/
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Spam from Andreas Stabno
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| (...) I used to hate this. But, after taking several years of German, I feel a lot better. Why? I realized that German 'recycles' a lot of pronouns for various uses. For example, "sie" is "she", "they", and the formal "you". So I figure, why not (...) (26 years ago, 22-Oct-98, to lugnet.general, lugnet.market.auction, lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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