carlc@tektronix.UUCP (Carl Clawson) (01/25/85)
Let's have some suggestions about *informal* modes of address. I don't worry too much about Mr./Mrs./Ms. etc. and I don't give a she/he/it about pronouns. What I'd like to know is this: What's a politically acceptable *informal* noun referring to a female? For example: I'd never say something about "The man who came to fix the Xerox machine." It would be "The guy ..." or "The fella ...". (Or, for '60's throwbacks, "The dude ...") Problem: There aren't any corresponding words for females, except "gal" corresponding to "guy", but since this seems to be derived from "girl" it is probably offensive. And, yes, dude <=> chick but I don't talk about dudes anyway. So how about it, <women>? What's your favorite informal word for female? Or are *all* informal words considered offensive by the more sensitive among you? (I was once scolded for referring to a 12-year-old as a "girl." Of course, that was in Berkeley!) Carl tektronix!carlc
greenber@acf4.UUCP (ross m. greenberg) (01/26/85)
<>
From my understanding, the "honorific" 'guy' is actually not such an
honorific:
Over there in the Isles of the Brit's there was this fellah named Guy Fawkes
who had this idea that the House of Lords (British types --- correct me if
I'm wrong) shouldn't be in one piece.
So he decided to blow it up. It never happened, of course, but the
anarchists over there have a holiday to celebrate once a year in honor
of his attempt.
When somebody was being scolded as not being trustworthy, they were called
"Guy's", which lost its capital letter somewhere along the way.
So calling somebody a "guy" is actually an insult. (I think!)
Of course, I might be wrong (That happened once in 1968.....)
:-)
------------------------------------------------------
Ross M. Greenberg @ NYU ----> { allegra,ihnp4 }!cmcl2!acf4!greenber <----features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko) (01/29/85)
Carl asked for a less formal term to refer to women (analogy: man vs. guy). From my experience in an all-female high school, I would use "guy" as a non-gender-specific term. -- aMAZon @ AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL; ihnp4!ihuxf!features "Love your self's self where it lives." -- Anne Sexton
zubbie@wlcrjs.UUCP (Jeanette Zobjeck) (01/31/85)
<<<<<< offering to the god of line eaters>>>>>> For fella/fellow/man there is woman For guy there is lady or to a good friend gal girl is permissible for young (read minor) females =============================================================================== From the mostly vacant environment of Jeanette L. Zobjeck (ihnp4!wlcrjs!zubbie) All opinions expressed may not even be my own. ===============================================================================
jcgowl@ihlpg.UUCP (r. gowland) (02/02/85)
> Over there in the Isles of the Brit's there was this fellah named Guy Fawkes > who had this idea that the House of Lords (British types --- correct me if > I'm wrong) shouldn't be in one piece. > So he decided to blow it up. It never happened, of course, but the > anarchists over there have a holiday to celebrate once a year in honor > of his attempt. > When somebody was being scolded as not being trustworthy, they were called > "Guy's", which lost its capital letter somewhere along the way. > So calling somebody a "guy" is actually an insult. (I think!) > Of course, I might be wrong (That happened once in 1968.....) Brit speaking (speaking?) 1) am I as a male allowed to follow-up here? 2) not only anarchists, but EVERYBODY in the country spends the evening of Nov 5 or the next nearest Saturday scaring the wits out of our nation's pets by exploding gunpowder and burning old mattresses (we haven't so many waterbeds yet). 3) I was told as soon as I landed in this country that Goy was from a Jewish word meaning non-Jewish (is that Gentile?) and that mispronunciation had led to guy. I dont know whether this is true, but being British and being invited starts me off... To get back to the original reason for following up, Yes, Guy Fawkes (a Dutchman) did fail to do what Arthur Scargill is now trying. ihlpg!jcgowl Roger R. Gowland expatriate Brit at large