Re: Origin of the word 'kivismi'

--- Andreas Johansson <and_yo@...> wrote:
> Daniel44 wrote:
> >Andreas asked about the Uusisuom word 'kivismi'
> meaning 'communism'.
> >
> >Well, it comes from the verb 'kivti' to unite ( the
> word 'kivo' means
> >'together').
> >
> >'Kommunismi' is also possible.
>
> Thanks. Is, BTW, the cluster 'vt' supposed to
> assimilate in some way? Is
> assimilation "wrong"?
> >
> >As to denoting male/female in Uusisuom, the word
> 'soika' literally
> >translates as 'man' and 'soike' as 'woman'.
> Therefore, 'kivisoika'
> >(kommunisoika) means a male communist and
> 'kivisoike' (or kommunisoike)
> >means a female communist.
> >
> >The word 'kirsoika' (from the verb 'kirti' - to
> read) means 'reader'. If
> >you
> >don't know the specific gender of the reader you
> stick with this (male)
> >form. But if you want to specify that the person
> reading is female, you use
> >the 'soike' ending.
>
> Well, I don't personally have anything against this
> system, but since some
> people I know have claimed that English is
> inherently sexist on the basis of
> similar habits ('he' being the default animate 3rd
> sg pronoun for instance),
> I thought I'd point out that a such system might
> upset some people. And
> upsetting people is, I assume, diametrically opposed
> to the objectives of
> any purpose-made IAL. Introducing a three way
> distinction (male vs female vs
> neuter/unspecified) could perhaps add to Uusisuom's
> attractiveness to some
> people, and I can't imagining it scaring anyone
> away.
>
>
> Andreas
It's funny that Uusisuom employs that concept above,
ie. sticking to male form if the gender of the person
being talked about is unknown.  In the Finnish
language, there is not too much distinction between
the genders as far as I know.  For example, both "he"
and "she" are expressed by the word "ha:n" and to
indicate the "or" or "er" (eg, taxi-driver), you use
"-aja" which shows no distinction (hence, Finnish
"taksi-ajaja").  Vya:a:h makes no distinction either.

Matt


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