<P>I thought that grammer comes from the Latin word "grammatica" which means pertaining to letters or literature, so that in the middle ages it was synonymous with learning in general, especially the knowledge particular to the learned class (male). Then the Old French word "grimoire" (book of magic) was introduced into the literary language by Sir Walter Scott, so the word "gramarye" was a corrupt form of grammar that became associated with witchcraft (female). To cast a glamour meant the incantation of enchantment and spells. Were the grammars of patriarchal English actually glamours: rules invented to describe men's ideas of how language ought to behave?</P>
<P>How did I go so wrong? </P>
<P>I'm also wondering about the word prophet, which isn't defined as being male only, but includes prophetess after the definition. Would that be gendered?</P>
<P><B><I>"Karl V. Teeter" <kvt@FAS.HARVARD.EDU></B></I> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff solid 2px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px"><HTML>Dear Jill, your speculation is interesting, but I fear it is not supported by the etymologies of grammar and glamour. These are variants of the same word and associated because in the middle ages grammar was one of the seven lively arts, and as such inherently mystical, and glamorous. Some linguists still find it so and not, I think, on a gender-related basis. Yours, kvt (=Karl V.Teeter, Professor of Linguistics, Emeritus, Harvard University<BR>At 08:25 AM 11/11/99 -0800, you wrote:<BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite type = cite>I am an artist interested in how language defines the image of women portrayed an art and women artitsts. I want to study how the etymology of several words exclude her from the definition of artist and limit ther to being an object on display. However, I am not a linguist and I was wondering if anyone might be able to help me. I think that from the histories of <U>grammer</U> and <U>glamour </U>it is evident that the patriarchal culture continues: man acts; woman is acted upon; <U>hero</U> saves <U>heroine</U>. The <U>muse </U>of the <U>artistic genius</U> is a <U>fetished </U>female <U>fantasy</U>. I don't want to intrude on your listserve, but I have been following it since last spring and I find it very interesting and informative. Thanks for your time and ideas.<BR><BR>Jill Lyon<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><B>Do You Yahoo!?</B><BR>Bid and sell for free at <A href="http://auctions.yahoo.com/">Yahoo! Auctions</A>.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>
<br><hr size=1><b>Do You Yahoo!?</b><br>Bid and sell for free at <a href="http://auctions.yahoo.com/">Yahoo! Auctions</a>.<br>