rf@wu1.UUCP (09/13/83)
Languages grow and change. They are designed by their makers and users to provide easy expression of commonly used concepts. Thus, we have technical dialects, farmers' dialects, financiers' dialects, and so forth. What is most easy to say in a language reflects what is usually said. That we have two forms of third person singular indicates that most of us prefer thinking about people as male and female. The male-preferred assumption (when gender is unknown, "he" is used) of our language indicates that an unspecified person is thought of as male. However, it seems silly to legislate or force changes in the language. When people see that a change is need -- when the base form of humanity is no longer assumed to be male -- people will use different language. The very fact that the notion is discussed means that at least some people already have considered the matter and begun the work of change. Randolph Fritz