Re: Man, oh, man

[Graham Small <grahams@LIBDOC.DEMON.CO.UK>]

Just my two cents' worth here.

Again, I may be of a certain age (but not the SAME certain age - who are the
King's Singers, by the way ?), but I personally do not have a problem with
using alternative phrases to refer to the same thing. I can understand and
sympathise with those who might take offence at the use of Man to refer to
the Human Race - and to be honest, it is not something I would use. But,
neither do I have an objection to the use of Man or Mankind. Maybe it's
because my background is in lexicology, but I believe that to use a word
accurately, you must not only understand its meaning, but also its origin
and development. This is not always possible beyond a superficial level, but
I believe it is something that we, as librarians, and as users of the
language, should strive to do. Consequently, I am aware that the derivation
of Man (in this context) is from Mankind and that semantically it's origins
do not lie in a concept that is gender-based. Therefore, I can accept it,
whilst being aware that it might be offensive to those who are maybe not as
aware of the word and its meaning beyond the the way it is written (please
do not flame me for elitism or for being patronising - I am only saying here
that there is more to a word that the way it is spelled and this needs to be
taken into consideration).

I concede that the word Man (in this context) can be ambiguous. However,
ambiguity inplies two ways of looking at something, and I am quite prepared
to accept both views.

To extend this theme a little, what I do take great exception to is the
misuse of words that have no ambiguity attached to them, solely on the basis
of the way they are spelled. The most notable example of this kind of
linguistic abuse is the use of the word herstory as an alternative to
history. This may make a valid socio-political point, but it has no
linguistic justification. It is, in the strict sense of the phrase, a
nonsense word.

But I digress. The point I am attempting to put across here is that language
is not a blunt instrument. It is a surgeon's knife. It is precise, exact,
and has depth. Furthermore, in order to use language effectively and
efficiently, it needs to be understood. Otherwise we leave ourselves open to
misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and mistrust.

I hope that I have not offended anyone with this contribution. That was not
my intention.

Graham Small
The Library Doctor
UK


grahams@libdoc.demon.co.uk
www.libdoc.demon.co.uk

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
    NOTE: Please allow time for confirmation from Listserv.
For more help see LM_NET On The Web: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=