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Posted: 2007-07-06 02:19:26
by Anne Cuneo
Posted: 2007-07-06 02:36:05
by ninjagame
Anne,
I really don't want to be the one dragging this subject on and on but - I was afraid that finally someone would come up with this "solution". As a matter of fact, it has been used in the 80s and the 90s mostly in academic circles - but that's all that is to it. Its spreading was - and is - limited to academic communication and some leftwing newspapers. It's way short of being "accepted philologically by just about anyone". From a philological point of view which is not tainted by ideology, there would be severe doubts to be brought forward against it.
But - that's definitely not a subject that should be discussed in this forum.
Have a nice day!
- ninjagame
Posted: 2007-07-06 03:39:52
by martinkerz
No, both forms are used now.
I had my own personal solution which I propose to everyone familliar with and sensitive for the problem. I call it the originator principle: If the speaking/writing person is female, she should use female plural forms. Men should proceed repectively.
Posted: 2007-07-06 22:16:26
by Anne Cuneo
As a matter of fact, it has been used in the 80s and the 90s mostly in academic circles - but that's all that is to it. Its spreading was - and is - limited to academic communication and some leftwing newspapers.
I must be living in academic circles, among left-wing people (publishers of the german-speaking Swiss dailies included
), and in a time-gap, then… Interesting, I hadn't noticed.
PS. Personally, I couldn't care less, I don't need feminine endings to express my identity, in fact I hate forced feminins if the language does not use them spontaneously, and would never use BenützerIn and such myself. I was just explaining…