People Of Personchester Beware!

[naomi24]

In its “inclusive language guide” for staff and students, Manchester University says sibling should be used to replace brother and sister, parent or guardian should be used rather than mum and dad, and husband and wife are also discouraged so as not to offend anyone, with partner being the preferred term instead.

Fortunately they don't appear to have noticed the 'Man' in Manchester…. yet.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19230338/manchester-uni-ban-brother-sister-mum-dad/

[Ellipsis]

Try rewriting this sentence to use "mothers" and "fathers":

For each student, up to two parents are welcome at the graduation ceremony.

[naomi24]

I would replace ‘parents’ with ‘guests’. Granny might want to go in place of dad.

RH, just a thought. I’ve never seen you refer to your husband as your partner.

[mibn2cweus]

In an ideal world there would be a Womanbreaster for every Manchester in the world.

[naomi24]

Haaaa! Oh for an ideal world. :o)

[Peter Pedant]

we havent had any smutty comments about changing
the Third Man to the third person
The Prince and the Pauper - one of the Royals and a bit of rough

of the Titfield thunderbolt - disgusting

[Gromit]

The Sun and its readers on here object to perfectly acceptable terms like siblings and parents.

But that really terrible abomination of a word ‘Woke’, is wholeheartedly adopted and is gleefully rammed down our throats at every opportunity.

[naomi24]

No one objects to the words sibling and parents, gromit. We’ve all used them forever when they mean what we want to say. What people object to is being asked to use them when they don’t mean what we want to say.

[Ellipsis]

> I would replace ‘parents’ with ‘guests’. Granny might want to go in place of dad.

That's not answering the question. But if we go with that, when Granny became the guardian after Dad died, then you're showing exactly why "parent or guardian should be used rather than mum and dad" makes for more inclusive language ...

[Gromit]

This is a writing style guide for people who work for Manchester University.
As no one on AB works there, why does it upset you.p?
It does not affect you at all, and they are not forcing you to adopt it.

[naomi24]

Not at all, ellipsis. I have never referred to either my mum or my dad as a ‘parent’. Always mother or father or jointly as parents - and no one has ever been confused. They know exactly what I’m talking about. This claptrap creates confusion.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Not sure what this has to with you unless you think this uni has a faculty that is preparing to write to you.

Even if it is - and assuming you’re a mother - why would the way you were referred to change anything?

[naomi24]

What does it have to do with you, SP?

[sp1814]

naomi24

You wrote:

“What people object to is being asked to use them when they don’t mean what we want to say.”

Which people are you speaking on behalf of?

This literally has nothing to do with anyone outside the uni and furthermore it’s a guide.

A suggestion.

It is not a compulsion.

Parents is a perfectly acceptable term for mothers and fathers because this is what they are.

If this university said that all mums and dads should be referred to as porcupines and orange sorbets, I’d see you point.

As it is - I can’t see what’s bothering you.

A group who has nothing to do with you has made a suggestion to it’s faculty members and somehow you think they’re demanding you change your language.

No.

[naomi24]

It has nothing to do with you either, SP, but that hasn’t stopped you sticking your two-pennyworth in.

[Ellipsis]

> I have never referred to either my mum or my dad as a ‘parent’.

What has that got to do with anything?

[naomi24]

Are you following the conversation, ellipsis? Read the link - the bit that recommends the words mother or father are replaced by parent or guardian.

[sp1814]

naomi24

Agreed.

It has nothing to do with me - which is why I didn’t open a question about it.

Like a snowflake.

[sp1814]

naomi24

I’m literature and uni documents rather than referring to mother and father, parents and guardian will be used.

Bang on.

That means when writing to the people who have brought up the students, the language used will be inclusive - same-sex couples, grandparents, foster parents, single parents.

Everyone included.

Everyone will still be able to use whatever words they want to describe themselves as well.

If you like the word mum, whose stopping you from using it???

[sp1814]

Ellipsis

“the bit that recommends the words mother or father are replaced by parent or guardian.”

Note - the university IS NOT recommending the word be replaced generally…only in its own literature.

[naomi24]

But you nevertheless said your bit - like a snowflake.