mab@bnl.UUCP (Michael A. Bloom) (12/16/83)
"Isn't "gal" the feminine equivalent of "guy"?" Not quite. It certainly appears that when used in the phrase "guys 'n gals" these two terms balance each other out so that they have roughly equivalent complementary meanings. When used separately, however, they have quite different connotations. Lets say you are out to lunch with 3 or 4 co-workers of mixed sex. Do you ask: "You guys have room for dessert?" ? How about: "You gals have room for dessert?" ? Suppose the lunch party were all male? all female? Which would you ask if you were the sole male? the sole female? And finally which of the two words rolls more easily on your tongue? Incidentally, these are *rhetorical* questions, not a survey. -- Michael A. Bloom ..!bnl!mab or mcb@mit-mc.arpa or mab@bnl