“Gender-Neutral Language”

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

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

3. 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”

4. 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.”

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

6. Links on Gender-neutral Language • http://denisdutton.com/what_are_editors_for.htm • http://aetherlumina.com/gnp/faq.html

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

8. 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?

9. Questions