waltt@tekecs.UUCP (Walt Tucker) (08/26/83)
This is only an observation (hypothesis), and not a pro or con (no
flames please). Also, all comments are "in general", meaning that
of course this won't hold for everyone.
It seems like in the West (i.e. west of the Rockies) people tend to use
the masculine to denote either sex, whereas the Eastern United States
tends to be a bit more "proper" (notice the quotes). Call this a dialect
inflection, or what you will. Or maybe a result of the english emphasis
in grammar school (that is another observation, but that's another story).
I've never lived back East, so I grant you that this may be a one-sided view.
Case in point. I've lived in 3 different cities in the State of Oregon
(the furthest were close to 400 miles apart). I all three areas, people
(groups of men only as well as groups of girls only, as well as mixed
company) tend to use the term "guys" to denote either sex (as in "C'mon
guys, let's go"). When my girl friend moved out from New York in 1970
(while still in Jr. High), she was shocked when her girlfriends would
use this type of phase, replying with "But were NOT guys"). After a
number of years out here, she picked up the habit of speech, the same
as the rest of us. Then, in 1978, she worked a summer at a National
Park in Montana. While most of the people she hung around with grew up
in the "West", there were a few Eastern women in the office. Most of
the Western people tended to use "guy" to denote people or women, while
the Eastern women would also correct them.
Any comments; is the "dialect theory" way off base?
----------------------------------------------------
hypothesis addition: The "West" has been more recently male dominated
than the "East". In fact, it was less than 150 years ago that the first
women came into the Oregon Territory. Even though about 1/2 of the present
"Western" population were not born here, people that tend to move into
an area adapt the speech patterns of the "natives". So, old male-dominated
speech patterns in the West have not had the time to fade that the
patterns in the East have.
-- Walt Tucker
Tektronix, Inc.
P.S. -- Anybody know of a study on the above? I've never read any.timo@dadla-b.UUCP (08/30/83)
Well, Walt, maybe I'm an isolated case but... I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio & remained in Ohio (various parts) til the age of 26. I had traveled some east of the state but none west. For as long as I can remember I & my friends (male & female) have used `guys' as a generic person-type term. I seem to recall having picked up the habit from a female friend in 9th grade (for whatever it's worth). I now live in Oregon (having moved from Washington) & don't seem to have noticed any major difference in gendered/genderless terminology. Perhaps I haven't been around long enough tho' (about three years)... to'c Tektronix. Inc. P.S. A friend from Wood's Hole (about as east as ya can get, Martha's Vineyard, the Kennedy's & all) also uses `guy' as a generic. Would this be an acceptable replacement (or stand-in) for man?