Re: Proposed Constitution
--On Mon, Apr 27, 1998 8:37 am -0700 vanco@sonic.net wrote:
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> On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Mark Baker wrote:
>
>> On Mon, Apr 27, 1998 at 06:05:51PM -0400, Bob Hilliard wrote:
>> > include the plural". Then all of the clumsy constructions using
>> > plural pronouns (they, their) to refer to singular entities (Leader,
>> > Secretary, etc.) should be changed to use singular masculine pronouns
>> > (him, his).
>>
>> "They" is not only a singular, it is also widely accepted as a singular
>> pronoun, and has been used as such by not only ordinary people but also
>> great writers for hundreds of years.
>>
>
> I am sorry to burst that bubble, but do you care to centest that argument
> with my english teacher?
Happy to. Send him over here (to England). I'll have a go at them for your
spelling while I'm at it ;)
Personal taste aside, 'they' is certainly grammatically acceptable as a
gender free singular or plural noun. Although, being so free, it is also
ambiguous. Personally, I find it more comfortable to read than any of the
alternatives. Other people find 'they' clumsy, and prefer 'he'. I
understand this point of view perfectly, just don't agree with. I'm not
naive enough to believe that repeated use of 'he' is sex discrimination.
However, I personally feel that 'he' as used in modern English, does in fact
convey a definite sense of maleness, which is why I sometimes avoid it.
> Who will take something seriously if its main constitution is
> riddled with grammatical errors? Who of the same will take it seriously if
> it is discriminatory? Who, then, will read it if it is twice as long as it
> needs to be?
>
> I say everybody is too paranoid. Who cares what it looks like? Do
> it effectively and use the most common method, whoever's toes it steps on.
> Don't be afraid to put "he" because somebody will surely slander you for
> your nievety.
Personally, I would like the constitution to read comfortably, more than
anything else. I fear that, as a legal document, this is unlikely anyway :(
The old text-books frequently started with the phrase 'he embraces she'.
Sweet, I think :)
Jules
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| Jules aka | | Richmond, Surrey |
| Julian Bean | jmlb2@hermes.cam.ac.uk | TW9 2TF *UK* |
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