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The Nonsexist Word Finder
Over 5000 entries provide assistance in deciding when to exclude words that might be considered offensive or obsolete.
- GenresReferenceNonfiction
210 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 11, 2017
I had an undeserved reputation as a child for reading dictionaries. I admit that I took one down from the shelves from time to time, curious as to what word I would come across, but never actually poured through one front to back. This is the first one, and I am better for it.
The use of this text as a method for clearing out sexist and unjustifiably gender-specific language is clear, and Maggio accomplishes that goal consistently and with not a little humor. I especially appreciate the singling out of specific words which, while they may initially appear sexist, aren't in usage or origin (for example, the various words such as manipulate derived from the Latin "manus," hand), and the special care taken to point out the double-standard with terms related to sex work. Maggio proposes replacing all euphemistic terms for sex work ("streetwalker," "call girl," etc.) with "prostitute," and to refer to their clients (which typically have much kinder names like "john") with "prostitute's 'client,'" including the quotation marks about "client" to call out the dubious nature of the relationship. Maggio similarly picks apart aspects of English that use "man" as the generic and terms that apply a derivative, "feminine" ending to the base word (e.g. "brunet" instead of "brunette," "aviator" instead of "aviatrix," so on). Included is a robust appendix covering some of these more difficult or pervasive problems. I only found myself disagreeing with Maggio on a single account, being the proposed alternatives to "sideman" in the jazz context. Maggio suggests calling the musicians just by their regular instrumental designation ("bassist," etc.) or simply as a member of a band. I don't think this fully encompasses the specific meaning of "sideman," and elsewhere Maggio makes a note if no perfect synonym is available, but this is only one very specific gripe. Not to say that alternatives couldn't exist; I am just unsatisfied with this specific one.
What was more interesting to me, however, was that this book is 30 years old. Much of the language proposals Maggio suggests have been gradually adopted. Most of the classic "-man" profession endings have turned to gender-neutral or gender-inclusive terminology rather than "-man" as the generic. For example, we are now much more likely--or at least as likely--to see "police officers" or "policemen and policewomen" rather than "policemen" as a generic. Many of the insulting phrases that Maggio identifies as not explicitly sexist but commonly applied to one gender or another specifically have also become broader in their compass. "Scatterbrained" comes to mind, which at least I hear as often applied to both genders in modern print and speech.
As an added bonus, the book includes a number of short writings discussing the importance of gender-free language and a few examples of where it had already been implemented by 1987. For example, there is a note on the success of when Minnesota changed all state statues to gender-free language in 1984 by Richard J. Sands and Maryann Corbett, who worked on the project.
Maggio also advocates for the singular "they," which is worth an entire star all by itself.
The use of this text as a method for clearing out sexist and unjustifiably gender-specific language is clear, and Maggio accomplishes that goal consistently and with not a little humor. I especially appreciate the singling out of specific words which, while they may initially appear sexist, aren't in usage or origin (for example, the various words such as manipulate derived from the Latin "manus," hand), and the special care taken to point out the double-standard with terms related to sex work. Maggio proposes replacing all euphemistic terms for sex work ("streetwalker," "call girl," etc.) with "prostitute," and to refer to their clients (which typically have much kinder names like "john") with "prostitute's 'client,'" including the quotation marks about "client" to call out the dubious nature of the relationship. Maggio similarly picks apart aspects of English that use "man" as the generic and terms that apply a derivative, "feminine" ending to the base word (e.g. "brunet" instead of "brunette," "aviator" instead of "aviatrix," so on). Included is a robust appendix covering some of these more difficult or pervasive problems. I only found myself disagreeing with Maggio on a single account, being the proposed alternatives to "sideman" in the jazz context. Maggio suggests calling the musicians just by their regular instrumental designation ("bassist," etc.) or simply as a member of a band. I don't think this fully encompasses the specific meaning of "sideman," and elsewhere Maggio makes a note if no perfect synonym is available, but this is only one very specific gripe. Not to say that alternatives couldn't exist; I am just unsatisfied with this specific one.
What was more interesting to me, however, was that this book is 30 years old. Much of the language proposals Maggio suggests have been gradually adopted. Most of the classic "-man" profession endings have turned to gender-neutral or gender-inclusive terminology rather than "-man" as the generic. For example, we are now much more likely--or at least as likely--to see "police officers" or "policemen and policewomen" rather than "policemen" as a generic. Many of the insulting phrases that Maggio identifies as not explicitly sexist but commonly applied to one gender or another specifically have also become broader in their compass. "Scatterbrained" comes to mind, which at least I hear as often applied to both genders in modern print and speech.
As an added bonus, the book includes a number of short writings discussing the importance of gender-free language and a few examples of where it had already been implemented by 1987. For example, there is a note on the success of when Minnesota changed all state statues to gender-free language in 1984 by Richard J. Sands and Maryann Corbett, who worked on the project.
Maggio also advocates for the singular "they," which is worth an entire star all by itself.
April 26, 2013
This book is done so well. I haven't actually read it cover to cover, but I read the appendices and skipped around through the dictionary, and I know I want to pick it up again (probably permanently).
"Some nonsexist terms are still very jarring for some people. Choosing a milder nonsexist word or circumlocuting the problem will help effectuate the transition to prejudice-free language more easily and quickly. For too many years, the users of our language have been insensitive to all the people who felt the pain of being excluded. Inclusive language is intended to end the pain, not shift it to other people.
This is not a brief for timidity or even for compromise. The fact is that it is possible to use inclusive language without offending or startling people and without sounding like someone with a poor command of the language. It's not always easy, but it becomes less troublesome with practice and the acquisition of a few skills."
An excellent justification for the book's own existence.
"Some nonsexist terms are still very jarring for some people. Choosing a milder nonsexist word or circumlocuting the problem will help effectuate the transition to prejudice-free language more easily and quickly. For too many years, the users of our language have been insensitive to all the people who felt the pain of being excluded. Inclusive language is intended to end the pain, not shift it to other people.
This is not a brief for timidity or even for compromise. The fact is that it is possible to use inclusive language without offending or startling people and without sounding like someone with a poor command of the language. It's not always easy, but it becomes less troublesome with practice and the acquisition of a few skills."
An excellent justification for the book's own existence.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews