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Bumbles · 51-55, M
I think needing to recall someone’s gender is a bit silly as is the use of “they” which most of the time is plural.
Bumbles · 51-55, M
@BohoBabe Okay, we can quibble about mostly, but often in speech I don’t know if a single person or more than one person is being referenced. I’m also not familiar of another example when grammar had changed for political purposes and where language becomes intentionally vague rather than more precise.
BohoBabe · M
@Bumbles Just off the top of my head, "Pagan" use to mean "country-dweller," now it refers to religious movements. Lots of racial slurs started out innocently, but became slurs after years of being used as insults. So yeah, society and politics have always had an affect on language.
And as for language becoming more vague, where do we even begin? Slang changes language in confusing ways all the time. "Bad" can mean good." "Broken" can mean "unstoppable." "Literally" can mean "metaphorically."
And as for language becoming more vague, where do we even begin? Slang changes language in confusing ways all the time. "Bad" can mean good." "Broken" can mean "unstoppable." "Literally" can mean "metaphorically."
BohoBabe · M
@Bumbles I didn't say they were slurs, I said language actually does change based on society and politics all the time.
Some of the greatest English-language writers used it that way. "Literally" has been used for centuries to mean figuratively.
TBH, I never use it that way, but some people do. And I can't really say they're wrong. 🤷♂️
As for literally meaning figuratively, it should be a crime.
Some of the greatest English-language writers used it that way. "Literally" has been used for centuries to mean figuratively.
TBH, I never use it that way, but some people do. And I can't really say they're wrong. 🤷♂️