Re: Gender in language

From: Daniel Vuurboom & Gerry Damen <vuurdameDELETE@xs4all.nl>

Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 17:26:22 +0000

David desJardins wrote:

> I think they otherwise would not.)  I can, however, change the language
> that I use.  It seems to me that changing that which I can control is
> better than saying it's all someone else's responsibility.
>

On the subject of changing language: I'm not so sure you can. Years ago,
the dutch used one of two words to describe immigrants,
buitenlander(foreigner) or gastarbeited(guestworker). Over time, both
words got 'contaminated' if you will by being used in a racist manner.
The PC brigade decided to do something about that by introducing the
word 'allochtoon' to take their place. To be used by people who wanted
to advertise the fact that they weren't racist.

Nowadays, my local library (I live in a very multiethnic neighbourhood)
has placards in the window, trying to remove the current racist overtone
of the word 'allochtoon'.

My point is, that if the concept you try to express is used in
discrimination, it does not matter which word you use for it. The word
will receive that negative semantic overtone.

Daniel

References

Re: Gender in language
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 10:48:57 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 18:10:15 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 07:07:58 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Gender in language
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 10:48:57 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 18:10:15 +0000
Re: Gender in language
David desJardins <desj@math.berkeley.edu>
Mon, 11 Nov 2002 07:07:58 +0000