Follow

Why is it all the collective terms that people claim are gender neutral (guys, lads etc...) Are all of male origin. Noone ever claims ladies, or girls, or lasses, to be gender neutral?

@quixoticgeek@social.v.st Don't languages tend to turn gender-neutral terms into male terms? Prime example: "man".

@antonia seems it's had some migration. Surely also that's mann/menn tho?

@quixoticgeek@social.v.st I mean, the original meaning persisted in common use for one heck of a long time, see e.g. terms like "mankind".

@antonia yet humankind is the preferred term these days.

@quixoticgeek “Greetings, Earthlings” tends weird people out unfortunately. Even though it is technically correct. Probably, anyways.

@martijn as does "greetings mortals" can't work out why...

@quixoticgeek somehow that word is even more grim in the Dutch language. Love it!

Sign in to participate in the conversation
(void *) social site

(void*)