VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Scott Pollak

So I'm narrating an audiobook and reading the "About the Author" segment and it says "... while at Georgia State, he also met his wife...."

I had to stop and not giggle.
Did it mean he had lost his wife and finally found her??
Really, shouldn't it say: "He met his future wife..."? Or "He met the girl he would eventually marry."?

Another thing I'm seeing a lot of in books and narrations now is saying "His or her....." whereas a simple "They" would suffice. Not sure why the trend now is to say both "His or her..." instead of plain old "they". Guess it's a by-product of trying to be politically correct?

I know, I know.... I have too much time on my hands.
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Scott R. Pollak
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Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:48 am Post subject:

this reminds me of the question that grates me: now what was your name again?

diane. still is.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:54 am Post subject:

"They" may suffice, but it's still not grammatically correct when used to refer to one person. Personally, I find the (grammatically correct) use of "he or she" preferable to the also grammatically correct use of "he" or the grammatically incorrect, but politically correct, "they." Whenever possible, I try to structure my sentences to avoid having to make the choice at all.
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Frank F · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:27 am Post subject:

They do not teach grammar in college anymore. Not do they teach proper use of the English language.

FF
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vkuehn · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:34 am Post subject:

Maybe that's the reason for the push to establish universal pre-K. At what other level of education are people going to have chance to learn grammar? Inoccent

Bish · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:58 am Post subject:

I was brought up in an education system that taught "he" was grammatically correct when dealing with both/mixed genders. While I do certainly sympathise (and agree) with those who would tell us this reinforces gender stereotypes and the inequality of women, it's a hard habit to break. I find "he or she" ungainly, "he/she" smacks of forced political correctness and "s/he" just plain ridiculous.

This observation is purely linguistic... maybe we need a new word? It took a few years, but the title "Ms." is now firmly ensconced in our lexicon and readily used a a title that doesn't make the female linguistically subservient to marital status.

Linguistics are fascinating. The constraints placed upon us can influence the way we think. Language should be alive and reflect society and as we become less and less gender-based, language needs to catch up.
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
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Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

Trust me, Peter, it gets very interesting with a second language; one that carries equal value to the first. Having that jostling around creates smoke signals from the ears; sometimes, at least.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:01 pm Post subject:

Lizden · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 1:03 pm Post subject:

Oh Yonie! I SO agree!
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:00 pm Post subject:

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:21 pm Post subject:

I should clarify. I don't believe "they" should be that word, but "they" IS that word, so we're stuck with it.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
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Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Deirdre · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 3:59 pm Post subject:

From the New York Times,
By PATRICIA T. O’CONNER and STEWART KELLERMAN
Published: July 21, 2009

Frank F · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:47 pm Post subject:

So who are they?

FF
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ccpetersen · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 4:51 pm Post subject:

Who am us, anyway?
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Jul 25, 2013 5:23 pm Post subject: