An interesting problem

[figmo]

It's interesting from a scientific point, anyway.

From my POV, it means I really have to get cracking on finishing up those vocal harmony arrangements for my CD.

The reason? My alto is going to become a baritone soon.

Specifically, Dr. Jane Ann Robinson told me today she plans to become Dr. James Daniel Robinson.

We joked that if things take a while, she could cut all the alto tracks, then after her voice changes, she could cut baritone tracks. (Actually, she thinks she'll be a tenor like her father, but I think she'll be a baritone.)

Comments

[queenofstripes.livejournal.com]

It depends on who you ask. :) One of my roommates was a trans activist and gender studies major in college and I hear her say "f***ing neurotic trannies" once every couple of weeks (with a wry smile, of course). :) I'll use "trannies" around my friends, and I'll generally use "transpeople" or "transgendered people" around folks who don't know me as well.

I think it's like a lot of other epithets -- it depends on the context and the experiences of the listener. I've met a couple of people, usually older transgendered people, who absolutely will not suffer the term in their presence. The term is often used in pornography, so it has connotations of dehumanization and fetishization. But on the other hand, the younger trans crowd seems perfectly comfortable using it in group names, event flyers, and so forth. Unfortunately, there's also a degree of political correctness around it, in that trans people are more likely to get away with it...

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for the elucidation.

Though I hadn't thought about it before, this exchange would be appropriate for the mailing list of the American Dialect Society. Do you mind if I post it there? Of course, I can include your posting name or not, as you prefer.

-- Dr. Whom, Consulting Linguist, Grammarian,
Orthoepist, and Philological Busybody
[This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]

[queenofstripes.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I can really cited as an authority. :) But yeah, that's at least my personal experience, granted, in a very liberal city (suburban Boston). I don't mind having my name included, go right ahead!

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Gracias et spasibo, donna gentilis.

-- Dr. Whom, Consulting Linguist, Grammarian,
Orthoepist, and Philological Busybody
a.k.a. Mark A. Mandel
[This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Self correction: I did NOT prepare the text of the previous message with NaturallySpeaking! (I could have spelled it out by voice, but small amounts of typing don't usually bother me.)

-- Dr. Whom, Consulting Linguist, Grammarian,
Orthoepist, and Philological Busybody
a.k.a. Mark A. Mandel
[THIS text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]