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It’s a bit anglocentrists to never think that ”oh maybe there are other systems where it makes sense.” Hell, _most_ languages have more words for kinship than E
by toxik 7y ago
It’s a bit anglocentrists to never think that ”oh maybe there are other systems where it makes sense.” Hell, _most_ languages have more words for kinship than English! I always found it odd for example that grandfather doesn’t specify on which side. Like, how is that not super useful information?
- benj111 7y agoYou say Maternal/Paternal Grandparents, or add last names, or use different names (eg Granny and Nana). I can't think of a situation where I've had to differentiate them as relatives, only as individuals, so I can't see a distinction being that useful.
- toxik 7y agoReally, you’re going to defend this lack of precision? I’m sure you can get by but having precise words is rarely a loss. Anglocentric superiority complex eh.
- benj111 7y agoYou're right that I'm stuck in the Matrix so to speak, so I may well be missing out on something I'm not aware of. But I don't believe I've ever had to use the words 'Maternal/Paternal GrandMother/Father/Parent' which must say something about how often its used. Maybe we could turn it around, maybe you only use the word because it exists, maybe its like defenestrate. We could get by perfectly well without it. I don't believe I expressed on opinion on whether any one language was 'better', I could wax lyrical about the warts and shortcomings of the English language, I don't know enough about any other languages to say whether they are better or worse.
- dang 7y agoPlease don't break the site guidelines by adding personal swipes to an argument. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- toxik 7y agoI disagree that calling out anglocentrism is a "personal swipe," it is relevant to the argument (i.e. that it is hard to see beyond your biases.) Discussion should surely not be stymied for the sake of civility, better we step on each other's toes and get our point across than sit in our respective corners and sulk. I'm sure there was a better way to say what I said, but it was not mean-spirited as I am sure you can see.
- a3n 7y agoApple. Red apple. Green apple. Grandfather. Maternal grandfather. Paternal grandfather.
- toxik 7y agoTry making a five year old say ”maternal grandfather,” other languages have two-syllable words for all of these, like the Chinese words for which these are made.
- a3n 7y agoFive year olds get along fine with whatever practices their family uses, for a five year old's life.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]