HW 6 Lang and Gender lin211 PDF

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Lin211 homework assignment 6...

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LIN 211 Language & Gender homework _____________________

Name: Gianna Ross

II. Look up the following words in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) online, which can be accessed at: https://login.ezproxy.uky.edu/login?qurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.oed.com%2f For each word, answer the following questions: What was the original meaning of the word? What does the word mean today? How has that meaning changed over time? Simply copying and pasting from the OED will not earn full points for this assignment. 1) Mistress Original meaning? A women who governs; correlative to subject or servant. Current meaning? A women having an extramarital sexual relationship, especially with a married man. How has it changed? Mistress used to mean a women of power or with a job of some sort. Now it is very sexualized, and not a good word. 2) Hussy Original meaning? Housewife Current meaning? A women or girl who is disrespectful or immoral. How has it changed? It was used in a good sense and now it’s a bad term towards women and girls with a bad attitude. 3) Madam Original meaning? A formal address to a lady Current meaning? Used to address or refer to a women in a polite or respectful way. How has it changed? It hasn’t. 4) Governess Original meaning? A women employed to teach and train children in a private household. Current meaning? A women employed to teach children in a private household. How has it changed? Nothing has changed, no one really uses this term anymore because we now have tutors which is the more common word. 5) Spinster Original meaning? A women who spun thread and yarn.

Current meaning? An unmarried women, typically an older women beyond the usual age for marriage. How has it changed? It is almost the same thing, just not including the thread and yarn part because we don’t really have those anymore.

6) Courtesan Original meaning? A women prostitute, especially one whose clients are members of a royal court or men of high standing. Current meaning? A prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper class clients. How has it changed? It really hasn’t changed much other than the original talks more about royals and now its just wealthier people. 7) Wench Original meaning? A girl or child or servant. Current meaning? Serving girls or bar wench, someone who serves drinks at a tavern. And also a prostitute. How has it changed? It use to be only girls or children/servants. Now it is someone who actually serves someone else for pleasure. 8) Tart Original meaning? Open topped pastry/pie Current meaning? An open pastry case containing a filling. How has it changed? Nothing has changed.

II. What kind of general statement can you make about this set of English gendered terms? I think that all of them mean something more sexual or hurtful to women in particular. These words a long time ago were used because they were allowed to say and do whatever they wanted back then. But now if someone called another person these words it could actually be very hurtful. Most of these words are not really used as much as they were back then....