“Gender-Neutral Language” Author: Dennis G. Jerz Presenter: Stuart Reynard

Main Points Stylistic clunkers Special terms for women Gender-neutral language Discussion topics: ▫“Gender-neutral” vs “non-sexist” ▫Gender and grammar in the Bible

Stylistic Clunkers Definition – a phrase that reads or sounds awkward Example: ▫Original: “Every man for himself” ▫Clunker: “Every man or woman for himself or herself” ▫Clunker: “Every man/woman for him/her self” ▫Fix: “Everyone for him or herself” ▫Fix: “Everyone for yourselves”

Stylistic Clunkers (Cont’d.) Example: ▫Original: “…to boldly go where no man has gone before.” ▫Clunker: “…to boldly go where no man or woman has gone before.” ▫Clunker: “…to boldly go where no one has gone before.” ▫Clunker: “…to boldly go where no humanoid, android, robot, intelligent gaseous cloud being, non-corporeal energy entity, holographic projection, psychokinetic thought pattern reflection, or anything else has gone before.” ▫Fix: “…to boldly go where we have never gone before.”

Special Terms for Women Example: poetess, stewardess, actress ▫Fix: poet, flight attendant, actor Example: woman pilot, woman lawyer ▫Fix: pilot, lawyer

Links on Gender-neutral Language htmhttp://denisdutton.com/what_are_editors_for. htm

Discussion: “Gender-neutral” vs. “Non- sexist” Other titles too long ▫“Non-gender-specific Language” “Gender-fair Language” / “Non-sexist Language” ▫Too emotionally loaded

Discussion: Gender and Grammar in the Bible Pro: God’s word is intended for everyone ▫Making the Bible gender-neutral doesn’t detract from the ideas/principles Con: Makes some passages difficult to follow ▫Original: In Psalm 19, a verse says, ‘But who can discern his errors?’ ▫“Fix”: “But who can detect their errors?” ▫Who does “their” refer to?

Questions