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To think that the Cambridge Dictionary doesn’t know what a woman is?

274 replies

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 14/12/2022 07:46

Cambridge Dictionary changes definition of woman

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d0d69d58-7b0c-11ed-bcd8-855e06175970?shareToken=145378cb575d0ff12d97278f7355f1c8

This has fucked me right off this morning.

OP posts:
minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:43

ReneBumsWombats · 14/12/2022 13:34

So...you are happy to receive an adult Labrador instead of a kitten if enough people tell you that that's what it is?

In this fictional universe, where the word cat is also used for dog, and that was an established usage of the word, then in the circumstances where I am wanting to buy a cat I would obtain clarification on what sort of cat they meant before purchasing. Preferably also see the cat first. If they brought out what we in our universe call a dog, but in the fictional universe is sometimes called a cat, I would say haha I didn't mean that sort of cat, what a hilarious misunderstanding. And decline to purchase.

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:43

sanluca · 14/12/2022 13:40

So this argument isn't about the dictionary per se, it's just upset you that society has gone so far that the dictionary did that?

Question though, minimarshmallows, is why aren't more people upset about the fact it has gone so far that woman now means anyone of either sex whoever want to call themselves that and then get to use anything that is actually meant for the female sex but now is open for anyone of the male sex. Why is society so hellbent on doing that to our daughters in the western world, whilst simultaneously lamenting the world can't protect the female people in the non western world?

Because other worldviews exist?

babyjellyfish · 14/12/2022 13:45

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:09

I can't think of any examples at all actually. I don't consider the two 'woman' definitions to be contradictory. There is one type of person who people use the word 'woman' for and then another type of person who people use the word 'woman' for. It's added on but doesn't negate the first one.

One meaning of the word "woman" is "an adult human of the female biological sex", without any connotations about gender identity whatsover.

The other meaning of the word "woman" is "an adult human of the male biological sex who believes they have a female gender identity".

Without even getting into the minefield of WTF a female gender identity is when it's at home, are those two definitions not mutually exclusive and completely contradictory?

What do these two groups have in common?

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:46

babyjellyfish · 14/12/2022 13:45

One meaning of the word "woman" is "an adult human of the female biological sex", without any connotations about gender identity whatsover.

The other meaning of the word "woman" is "an adult human of the male biological sex who believes they have a female gender identity".

Without even getting into the minefield of WTF a female gender identity is when it's at home, are those two definitions not mutually exclusive and completely contradictory?

What do these two groups have in common?

It's two ways in which people might use the word.

babyjellyfish · 14/12/2022 13:46

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:43

Because other worldviews exist?

Female people also exist, and we need to be able to identify and discuss ourselves clearly, in a way which does not include male people.

Perhaps people with these other worldviews should come up with their own vocabulary to describe these identities that they believe in, instead of appropriating words that already exist and using them to mean their literal opposite.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/12/2022 13:47

You can actually "reserve words" for a certain class of people. You can't call yourself a solicitor or a doctor if you are not one, for example.

What these examples show is that you can reserve words in specific contexts . Americans have 'no solicitors' signs, which amuse brits but just mean no cold callers. Doctor... medics call themselves doctors but have no doctorate, PhDs can call themselves a doctor but rarely do.

So, we need to 'reserve' the word woman in the contexts where it was always meant to denote 'adult human female'.

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:47

babyjellyfish · 14/12/2022 13:46

Female people also exist, and we need to be able to identify and discuss ourselves clearly, in a way which does not include male people.

Perhaps people with these other worldviews should come up with their own vocabulary to describe these identities that they believe in, instead of appropriating words that already exist and using them to mean their literal opposite.

We can use words however we want as can you.

babyjellyfish · 14/12/2022 13:47

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:46

It's two ways in which people might use the word.

So people might use the word to mean, alternatively, "Thing 1" or "Thing 2, which is the opposite of thing 1".

Got it.

How do we know whether someone is talking about Thing 1 or Thing 2 when they use the word?

Wouldn't it make more sense to use different words?

babyjellyfish · 14/12/2022 13:48

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:47

We can use words however we want as can you.

I can't use the words "woman" or "female" in a meaningful way if these words can also be interpreted to mean "man" or "male".

ReneBumsWombats · 14/12/2022 13:48

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:47

We can use words however we want as can you.

Great. Here's the kitten you asked for.

To think that the Cambridge Dictionary doesn’t know what a woman is?
Ereshkigalangcleg · 14/12/2022 13:49
Grin
ErrolTheDragon · 14/12/2022 13:49

We can use words however we want as can you.

Welcome to Babel 2.0

PolkaDotMankini · 14/12/2022 13:49

YANBU. I despair.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 14/12/2022 13:51

What do these two groups have in common?

Exactly. This is the crux of the issue. And people can never answer without circular nonsense.

ghjklo · 14/12/2022 13:52

have the also changed the definition of man???

FrostyFifi · 14/12/2022 13:52

@Oldwomanatchristmastimes I rather like your way with words. This topic and some of the posts are deeply irking so that was a nice spot of levity.

OneTC · 14/12/2022 13:52

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:43

In this fictional universe, where the word cat is also used for dog, and that was an established usage of the word, then in the circumstances where I am wanting to buy a cat I would obtain clarification on what sort of cat they meant before purchasing. Preferably also see the cat first. If they brought out what we in our universe call a dog, but in the fictional universe is sometimes called a cat, I would say haha I didn't mean that sort of cat, what a hilarious misunderstanding. And decline to purchase.

Just casually knocking back your cat because it has a penis is a wrong type of cat is a pretty savage rejection.

What you wanted was an actual cat, if you'd been able to specify that you'd have saved the feelings of the winky dog

Ereshkigalangcleg · 14/12/2022 13:53

have the also changed the definition of man???

They actually have this time, which is at least something.

DisappearingGirl · 14/12/2022 13:55

en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_contranyms

it has a name!

Oh we could have fun with that list of contranyms!

It doesn't include woman (yet). It does include "literally", which as someone said earlier can now mean either "literally" or "not literally".

So with the updated definition of woman, we can now say that a woman can be either literally a woman, or someone who identifies as a woman, the latter being not literally a woman, but also, simultaneously, literally a woman.

Confused yet? 😂

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:55

OneTC · 14/12/2022 13:52

Just casually knocking back your cat because it has a penis is a wrong type of cat is a pretty savage rejection.

What you wanted was an actual cat, if you'd been able to specify that you'd have saved the feelings of the winky dog

Maybe in the fictional universe we use the word cis cat to refer to what we in this universe call a cat. And cat would be an umbrella term referring to what we call cats and dogs. And I would go into the pet shop and say I want a cis cat please. Or just 'cat' if you didn't mind either way.

ReneBumsWombats · 14/12/2022 13:58

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 13:55

Maybe in the fictional universe we use the word cis cat to refer to what we in this universe call a cat. And cat would be an umbrella term referring to what we call cats and dogs. And I would go into the pet shop and say I want a cis cat please. Or just 'cat' if you didn't mind either way.

But why can't we just say cat and dog? What's offensive about the word dog? What's the purpose of pulling all meaning from the word cat?

How many people do you need to tell you that the picture I posted upthread is a kitten before you accept that it is one?

ErrolTheDragon · 14/12/2022 14:00

Oh we could have fun with that list of contranyms!

There's a scene in a Star Trek episode where people are playing a contranym game at lunch.

walkinthewoodstoday · 14/12/2022 14:00

What do German and Spanish dictionaries say? Is this happening in other countries?

panko · 14/12/2022 14:01

ReneBumsWombats · 14/12/2022 13:58

But why can't we just say cat and dog? What's offensive about the word dog? What's the purpose of pulling all meaning from the word cat?

How many people do you need to tell you that the picture I posted upthread is a kitten before you accept that it is one?

Some dogs identity as cats. They can be dogs that call themselves cats.

minimarshmallowsmore · 14/12/2022 14:01

ReneBumsWombats · 14/12/2022 13:58

But why can't we just say cat and dog? What's offensive about the word dog? What's the purpose of pulling all meaning from the word cat?

How many people do you need to tell you that the picture I posted upthread is a kitten before you accept that it is one?

I dunno, I didn't invent this universe. Somebody did upthread and people keep asking me questions about it and I have to keep worldbuilding it.