[net.nlang] We need some new terminology

wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (07/22/85)

I have just read yet another article wherein someone said that his
father "worked" so that his mother did not have to "work", and which was
then flamed in reply by someone else who was indignant because this 
denigrated the "work" that a housekeeping mother has to perform.

The entire trouble is due to too many meanings for the word "work".

We need to use separate words for these separate concepts:

1) Physical activity -- "performing work"

2) Engaging in a job or trade to earn money -- "going to work"

3) Doing unpaid but necessary chores -- "working around the house"

Anybody have any other categories? What words should we use for each of
these? It should be possible, after picking the words, to write a
sentence: "My father {verb}ed but that was too much hard {noun}, so he
then started {verb}ing as an engineer, but he still made enough money so
that my mother did not have to {verb} though she still {verb(*)}ed."
wherein each unspecified word is distinct and unambiguous. (I can't do
this! It's too much for me...)

(*) is a word that implies the person involved was engaged in unpaid
household duties, vital to the preservation and maintenance of the
family unit, underappreciated and underrewarded, and social pressures
are brought to bear to keep this person in this position.

Will