Version: 0.8.0 (using KDE KDE 3.2.0) Installed from: Gentoo Packages Compiler: gcc OS: Linux I have noticed that when a single user signs-off, Kopete reports the result thereof as ``JohnDoe has changed their status to offline''--or something along those lines. The thing that does not make sense about this is the fact that Kopete would report the status-change for a single user as plural users, using ``their'' instead of ``his or her.'' Had ``their'' been elected on the grounds of readability or simplicity, I could appreciate the choice, but it does look unprofessional. Suggested changes: 1.) "his or her" alternating to "her or his" 2.) "his/her" alternating to "her/his" 3.) Gender fascism: ``JohnDoe changed its status to XYZ''
"their" was chosen so that it not be gender specific. their can be singular or plural.
Not in an attempt to contest unduly, I can assure you that ``their'' is not singular--i.e., at least in non-colloquial terms. Rather, it is plural; any guide to pronouns will confirm this. 1.) http://www.kentlaw.edu/academics/lrw/grinker/LwtaGender_Neutral_Language.htm 2.) http://www.writing911.com/realworld/t101grammar.htm 3.) http://www.wonderfulwritingskillsunhandbook.com/html/pronoun_agreement.html
Whether correct or not, I still find the text awkward, but I'm not a native speaker... Anyway, what about the same text that the passive popup uses? i.e. "Foo is now Online" (or Offline, Away, ...). Alternatively, "Foo is now marked as ...", or "Foo's status changed to ...", although I wonder if the latter possessive form can be properly translated in a gender-neutral way to notably the central European languages. Martijn
Martijn: What you have proposed would generally work. Would it seem fair to assume that ``User is now {offline,away,online}.'' would translate well?
On Monday 09 February 2004 21:22, Matt T.Proud wrote: > What you have proposed would generally work. Would it seem > fair to assume that ``User is now {offline,away,online}.'' would translate > well? That's what I wonder too... We have it in the passive popup and got no complaints, but I'm not sure that tells enough...
I was told long time ago that "their" can be used instead of "his/her" if you want to be politically correct. I don't know how much this neologism is codified in todays English, but I have been using is for some years now. Strangely enough, this is no problem e.g. for Czech, we have "svůj" as a word used for both genders. But "User changed his/her status" still is a little akward to translate as we have different word for male-user and female user and the verb has different suffix as well. So it would be "Uživatel/uživatelka změnil/změnila svůj status". :-)
http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=69700 is already ASSIGNED! :)
*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 69700 ***