somenotesongender-neutrallanguage2

1、Unit5 Section CSome Notes on Genger-Neutral LanguageBackground Information:Background Information: Gender-neutral language which is also called gender-inclusive language, inclusive language, or gender neutrality is linguistic prescriptivism that aims to eliminate reference to gender in terms that de

2、scribe people. For example, the words chairman, fireman, lesbian, and stewardess are gender-specific; the corresponding gender-neutral terms are chairpersonfirefighter, homosexual, and flight attendant. Nowadays the gender-neutral language is more and more acceptable and popular among people.New wor

3、dsmasculinemskjln阳性的；patriarchalpetrk()l父系的conventions knvnn 惯例；predominantprdmnnt 主要的；卓越的；deplorabledplrb()l 可叹的；凄惨的havochvk 浩劫disconcerting dsknst 令人不安的；preciselyprsasl 精确地；恰恰uterusjut()rs 子宫paranoia,prn 妄想狂malevolencemlev()l()ns 恶意literatelt()rt 受过教育的dominancedmnns n. 优势；统治；支配subsequentlysbskwntl

4、 adv. 随后，其后；后来reinforcerinfs 加强，加固contextkntekst n. 环境；上下文；来龙去脉easingi:zi n. 吃势；v. 释放transvestite trnzvestat; trnz-; -ns- adj. 易装癖的n. 异性装扮癖者，异性模仿欲pervasivepvesv 普遍的；Main Idea: To tell us：When we pick up something to read,we need to be not only aware of conventions we expect, but also conscious of th

5、e responses our words may elicit. Ecspecially pay attention to the Gender-Neutral language. Specific Analysis for the Whole Text:General（P1）Aware of the conventions that our readers may expectConscious of the responses our words may elicitKnow how the shfiting nature of language can make cretain wor

6、ds awkward or misleadingPay attention to the shifting natuer of language“Man”(P2-9)Although “man” become as a specific trem distinguishing an adult male from an adult female,it still continued to be used in generalizations about sexes（P2）In 18th century,the word “men” in its principal sense of “male

7、s” ws firmly estabblished as the predominant one（P3-8)The way to prevent confusion when using “man”as a generic pronoun-(substituting another word that dosent involve any spcific gender)P9The original and narrower definition of the word “man”The pronoun problem(P10-12)In the first grammars of modern

8、 english,pronouns reflected the reality of male cultural dominance and the male-centered world view(P10)Even the society by laws to describing membership used the pronoun,it was often conveniently ignored(P11)More and more people find the use of such a pronoun problematic which is not a true generic

9、 pronoun(P12)It is difficuit to establish the membership used the pronounSolving the pronoun problem(P13-17)“they” as a singular(P13)Someone rely on singular “they” as a matter of course when writing and speaking informally He or She(P14)Despite the charge of clumsiness double-pronoun constructions

10、have made a comebackPluralizing(P15)A writer can ofen recast matrerial in the pluralEliminating(P16)Avoid having to use pronouns at allFurther Alternative(P17)“He/she”or “s/he”， using one instead of “he”Answer：1. B 2. B (p2 line 11-12)3. C (p83 left line6-10)4. A (p10 line 3-6)5. B (p10 last sentenc

11、e) 6. B (p11 first sentence) 7. A (p11,line 12-16) 8. C (p12,second sentence) 9. C (p13 last sentence） 10. B I think it is important to use gender-neutral language. It has some advantages over gender-specific language. When we use gender-specific words such as policeman chairman and so on may cause some misunderstanding. Women hate using gender-specific language because using the language shows that people look upon on women. It is very unfair. Nowadays women have more rights an