Is calling 'people' 'folk' part of gender ideology rewriting language norms or is it separate?

[Gofastboatsmojito]

I've noticed this a lot in the last couple of years, it seems much more common in articles broadly on board with GI, pronouns, using the word Queer to describe anyone not achingly boring.

I've also noticed it coming out the mouths of my friends who are more TWAW inclined.

The word 'people' doesn't seem to have explicit links with biological realism or gender critical beliefs but it seems out of fashion in some circles.

Is this coincidence and more related to younger trendier language (!) or is it chosen for a reason?

"Folks" and "folx" don't sound the same at all to me. Are they supposed to?

Presumably! The only difference in spelling is the 'ks' / 'x' ,which make identical sounds, so I'm not sure why the two words would sound different!

My aunt was very keen on using folk and folks, often before berating us for some misdemeanour, and thus it is I have a strong dislike of the word. But that dates back to the '70s. A Dutch manager was also fond of using "folks" but that could be a language thing. I know more German than Dutch but das Volk is common in German for the population or people, so Dutch could be similar. Or he was just annoying.

See above for my pronunciation!

I use folk all the time and have for years (own a business) i initially started using it as I didn't like "guys" to me it's a more conversational way of speaking.

So I'd say Hi Folks, quick update about classes tonight

Yes, it's very noticeable.

Yes I think because 'folk' is more commonly used in the USA than 'people' is, particularly when trying to sound down to earth. Always sounds a bit cheesy to me, self-consciously 'folksy'. Used in this way 'folk' has a different vibe from Northern British usage, as in the phrase 'queer as folk'.

And all the trans ideology and use of language came from the USA of course, didn't it?

Also, to all those talking about the fact they use "folk" and "folks" and have for years, I mean yeah, I agree, it's a common existing word that's used in some places more than others and has existing connotations and usages.

But the specific usage in TRA communities is particular to them IMO, at least in the UK. It's often used in constructions like "trans folks" which are then used in sentences and contexts that I don't think would quite feel natural or idiomatic to speakers of most varieties of British English.

Like, I don't think that most British English speakers who would naturally say something like "Right folks, let's get going" or "Folk round here are fed up with the traffic" would necessarily write a sentence like "There are still challenges around access for disabled folks in the UK", which is more like the way TRAs and similar American-influenced social justice groups use it. Among those groups, "folk[s]" seems to be considered more acceptable in slightly more formal types of communication, and they also tend to have the "s" in contexts where most British speakers would omit it. I'm not saying that non-TRA Brits would never use "folks" like that, especially if they're speaking a regional variant where "folk" and "folks" are now common, but on average the TRA usage is different and reflects the online communities they're part of rather than their geographical location in the UK.

Is it the ending of Tom & Jerry
"That's All Folks

There is definitely a connection between the word “folk” and gender ideology, that’s completely separate from regional uses of the word instead of “people”. It became common a few years ago to see “trans folk” all the time and “trans people” almost never. And this was from people in regions who never say “folk”.

It's been around forever, my mother used to call people folk, and I find I often do as well .
My mum also used to say "nowt so queen as folk" , nothing to do with sexuality, just means people can do strange things

Folks is used in a more tribal context.

eg
"Folk round here are fed up with the traffic"

quoted from the post above would suggest that there is a general agreement and you and I are part of that group.

"People round here are fed up with the traffic is more formal, and more impersonal and can be used to suggest that you and I are not part of that.

Yes that is true, but is was also used as the title of a widely influential television serial about the lives of gay people, centred around Canal Street in Manchester.

Looney Tunes cartoons with Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, Roadrunner and Daffy Duck, I think.

OP, you’re right, a lot of TWAW people use ‘folk’ where otherwise we wouldn’t habitually.

I use folk and folks regularly, from living in Scotland, the US, and areas of northern England. I’ve never thought of it as anything other than a synonym for people.

The term 'folk' when used outside the North and Scotland (where it's common usage) is part of GI - so 'trans folk'.

Regardless of whether poeople in some British regions use the word folk' colloquially, I agree that this more recent widespread usage does seem to be an Americanism - of the sort used to render 'trans folk' harmless and cuddly. I can't stand it myelf, and avoid it at all costs.

I spent some pivotal years of my life in Norfolk.

I use folk quite a bit. I am not making any sort of political statement, just saying the thing that naturally comes next.

Being of Northern extraction, "folk" is a normal word to me. Usually said in a phrase such as "Folk don't know they're born!" or "There's nowt so strange as folk".

But the Wokerati amongst my acquaintance definitely use "folx" as a way of signalling their virtue referring to people of all gender persuasions. I see it as a useful warning that the content it's used in is likely to be absolute twaddle.

Yep I'd agree with that. There's a lot of subtlety and nuance around word choice, and the same word can signify different things in different contexts and from different people.

I've noticed more people use "folk" recently. I thought it was to replace "guys" (ie using a male word to describe a mixed group of people), so I see it as a positive change.

I'm another northerner who uses "folk" fairly regularly, even though I was once called pretentious on here for using it. Or at least I did until I read this thread, will think twice about using it now lest PEOPLE think I'm being woke rather than pretentious.

😂

But the reason it worked as a title was because the phrase was spread well-known, so you have the play on words.

I think you've very neatly captured the different usages i hear, some of which sound colloquial to my ear (your first examples) and the other type which sounds jarring and deliberately avoiding the word 'people', or indeed 'guys'.

Guys is an interesting one, I've heard pretty strong arguments for and against it being used for a mixed sex group. I think overall enough women don't like it that its best avoided, but this seems to really rile some people.

I also like peeps

I use folks at work as opposed to 'guys' - just trying to make a conscience effort to avoid male centric language.

Edit for context - London based creative industry profession.