Comments on: A Woman by any other Address: Ben Zimmer and The Origin of Ms. http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2009/06/29/a-woman-by-any-other-address-ben-zimmer-and-the-origin-of-ms/ Beyond Words explores our experiences with language, culture, and the world through our day-to-day interactions. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:49:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Larry Taub http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2009/06/29/a-woman-by-any-other-address-ben-zimmer-and-the-origin-of-ms/comment-page-1/#comment-989 Larry Taub Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:19:22 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=2788#comment-989 Sorry, the Japanese and Hebrew scripts in my above email seem to have been replaced by other symbols. Incidentally, as Mr. Zimmer pointed out in the article that appeared in the New York Times regarding the history of Ms., the widespread feminist use of the term and its general acceptance as a form of address was due to the promotional efforts of Ms. Sheila Michaels, one of the founding feminists at the end of the 1960s. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25FOB-onlanguage-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine Sorry, the Japanese and Hebrew scripts in my above email seem to have been replaced by other symbols.

Incidentally, as Mr. Zimmer pointed out in the article that appeared in the New York Times regarding the history of Ms., the widespread feminist use of the term and its general acceptance as a form of address was due to the promotional efforts of Ms. Sheila Michaels, one of the founding feminists at the end of the 1960s.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/magazine/25FOB-onlanguage-t.html?_r=2&ref=magazine

]]> By: Larry Taub http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2009/06/29/a-woman-by-any-other-address-ben-zimmer-and-the-origin-of-ms/comment-page-1/#comment-988 Larry Taub Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:07:01 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=2788#comment-988 I believe that in Japanese, normally, the prefix "san" (%u3055%u3093) is used as the general form of address in most cases for both men and women, irrespective of marital status. "San" becomes "sama" (%u3055%u307E or %u69D8) when a more formal, respectful honorific is needed, whether for a male, or femail, single or married. In Hebrew, although I am not 100% sure of this, the term gveret (%u05D2%u05D1%u05E8%u05EA) is the common form of address for both single or married women, that is, it is the exact equivalent of Ms. The term "Adon" (My Lord) is the general form of address for an adult male. But, again, I am not 100% sure. I believe that in Japanese, normally, the prefix “san” (%u3055%u3093) is used as the general form of address in most cases for both men and women, irrespective of marital status. “San” becomes “sama” (%u3055%u307E or %u69D8) when a more formal, respectful honorific is needed, whether for a male, or femail, single or married.

In Hebrew, although I am not 100% sure of this, the term gveret (%u05D2%u05D1%u05E8%u05EA) is the common form of address for both single or married women, that is, it is the exact equivalent of Ms. The term “Adon” (My Lord) is the general form of address for an adult male. But, again, I am not 100% sure.

]]> By: Dee http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2009/06/29/a-woman-by-any-other-address-ben-zimmer-and-the-origin-of-ms/comment-page-1/#comment-839 Dee Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:34:11 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=2788#comment-839 Devushka isn't necessarily Miss in Russian but can be used, for example, when trying to get a stranger's attention for women up to..well it's not clear what age exactly, somewhere short of grandmother, but it has nothing to do with marital status. It can also be used in the sense of young girl, maiden, or even virgin. Also as a historical footnote, during the Soviet period a common address for women in official situations was grazhdanka, feminine form of citizen, again no reference to marital status. Devushka isn’t necessarily Miss in Russian but can be used, for example, when trying to get a stranger’s attention for women up to..well it’s not clear what age exactly, somewhere short of grandmother, but it has nothing to do with marital status. It can also be used in the sense of young girl, maiden, or even virgin. Also as a historical footnote, during the Soviet period a common address for women in official situations was grazhdanka, feminine form of citizen, again no reference to marital status.

]]> By: Alphager http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2009/06/29/a-woman-by-any-other-address-ben-zimmer-and-the-origin-of-ms/comment-page-1/#comment-838 Alphager Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:53:12 +0000 http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/?p=2788#comment-838 My understanding as a young (20<X<30) german native speaker, "Frau" in modern usage is 100% neutral. My understanding as a young (20<X<30) german native speaker, “Frau” in modern usage is 100% neutral.

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