rdu (07/11/82)
A different approach to the problem of sexist language: Rather than taxing human ears and inventiveness searching for new words, we could simply supply English with a new punctuation mark which means, "the following word is offered free of any connotations, hidden or specialized meanings, offensive suggestions, ill wishes or other semantic baggage." It could be called the "escape mark." If a reader encountered one, \he could be assured of the writer's active sociolinguistic conscience. (Curiously, we already have a punctuation mark which ought to perform this function: the quotation mark. But that symbol has already acquired an obliquely related meaning. Rather than divorcing a word from its connotations, quotes alert the reader to them. Consider the two sentences Chairman Jane Smith had no comment. "Chairman" Jane Smith had no comment. The (often snide or supercilious) effect is so strong that even when there is no extra meaning to be found the reader will be left with the feeling he has missed something: Chairman Jane Smith had no "comment." I'm not sure how this effect arose. Isn't it relatively modern? or perhaps just a facet of my suspicious nature?) -- Mark Raabe (pur-ee!rdu)