>>>Q2) Is it true that in an attempt to enforce "equality" the words him and her have been combined into a new word "hem" ?
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>>Years ago I proposed (in casual amongst family, friends, anyone who would listen whenever the issue came up) that the word "heir" be extended to have that meaning (to be used in a case meaning his / her / their). It already has that type of connotation, meaning an heir can be a him, a her (or even a them). :-)
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>>I often see things like this in documentation:
>>When the user clicks the login button,
s/he will find the main screen appears.
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>imo, if a new word is invented because it genuinely improves the use of language, improves communication and understanding between people, that is one thing. But to invent words in an attempt to be politically correct or to try and pretend that male and female are the same I think is pointless.
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>(NB: I am not suggesting that is what the "heir" word is about - I dont know about that or how it would/might benefit communication or understanding).
I remember when there was great debate (ok, more dicta from the PC police) regarding the words "fireman", "chairman" and "policeman" . I thought that gender equality meant redefining our conception of the existing word so that "fireman" meant a person who fought fires ( "firefighter" is kind of cool though so that one went through pretty easily ) "Police woman" really did sound sexist somehow so "police officer" works. "Chairperson" just never worked for me and I think "Madame Chairman" is now a correct form of address though I am sure some wopersons may not agree :-)
Charles Hankey
Though a good deal is too strange to be believed, nothing is too strange to have happened.
- Thomas Hardy
Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm-- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.
-- T. S. Eliot
Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.
- Ben Franklin
Pardon him, Theodotus. He is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.