Latin and French nouns are gender-specific
by Rob - September 8th, 2008.Filed under: Uncategorized.
So, today, I was at a writers’ festival, and, when it was time to do my autographing, I was sitting next to a very nice female writer. She had a copy of her book, and I asked if I could see it. I turned to the back and read the “About the Author,” which said she “is an alumnus of …”
No, I pointed out to her, she’s not. She’s an alumna of said program (or, if one prefers gender-neutral language, she’s a graduate of or an alum of said program).
And, just yesterday, a female friend sent me a note on FaceBook saying, “My fiancée just surprised me with November’s Analog – good story!”
To which I replied, “Thanks! But unless it’s a gay wedding, he’s your fiancé (but you are his fiancée).”
(A gender-neutral phrasing would be, “My bethrothed …” or “My intended …”)
(I knew it wasn’t a gay wedding because the lucky man’s picture was on her FaceBook page.)
The Robert J. Sawyer Web Site