6.1152, Disc: Kinship terms

[The Linguist List]

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LINGUIST List:  Vol-6-1152. Thu Aug 24 1995. ISSN: 1068-4875. Lines:  41
 
Subject: 6.1152, Disc: Kinship terms
 
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Editor for this issue: dseely at emunix.emich.edu (T. Daniel Seely)
 
---------------------------------Directory-----------------------------------
1)
Date:  Tue, 22 Aug 1995 09:31:48 EDT
From:  clostran at mailbox.syr.edu ("Carolyn L. Ostrander")
Subject:  Re: 6.1143, Disc: Kinship terms
 
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1)
Date:  Tue, 22 Aug 1995 09:31:48 EDT
From:  clostran at mailbox.syr.edu ("Carolyn L. Ostrander")
Subject:  Re: 6.1143, Disc: Kinship terms
 
I am not qualified to speak about English in general, but I have observed
that some of the argument is based on statements that are not universally
true. I don't know the source of the usage, but in my family we call
children by the same type of term about equally. That is, I am as likely
to yell "Daughter, you have a phone call" as "Son, get down the stairs
and do the dishes". Similarly, I use both terms to indicate closeness:
"Nice job, son", "Good one, daughter!". My husband has (I think) picked
it up from me, but my brother's family does this too.
 
Carolyn Ostrander     clostran at mailbox.syr.edu
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