1- “How do you respond to their comments in light of what your textbook says?” For me, this question can be answered from two different viewpoints, and each would have a different response. If I’m only to answer the question in reference to the book, than the language one chooses to use is extremely important. This is due to the context and environment in which we are speaking. We are in a communication class. We are to present speeches to our audience in effort to entertain, inform, demonstrate etc. all with the goal of earning a high grade for our presentation. In this setting, clearly the language you use has a direct impact on your audience. Since our presentations are audience centered, the logical thing to do, in effort to obtain an A, you should use audience-centered language. Now, in everyday language, my opinion is different. I still believe language on chooses to use has in impact on people but to the extent argued in the discussion is a bit excessive. “"boy" is frequently used in the north-east England to refer to adult males, as is "lad"...as in "boys (or lads) night out "the boys" to refer to a group of adult males (as "the girls" is used to refer to a group of adult women).” I believe this comment makes a great point, which coincided with my opinion.
I have to say it, people get a little hung up on words and are very quick to cry foul as a result. However, when I try to look at this subject as ambivalently as possible I cannot help but try to see it from the opposite sex’s point of view. There is no doubt in my mind that it is easy to get frustrated about the way the world is run, and how men and women often get treated much differently. As some on that thread pointed out though, it is what it is. This is precisely why we can do our part, just as the OP suggested in refraining from using non-inclusive language.
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