Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site druxu.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!grkermit!masscomp!clyde!floyd!whuxle!pyuxll!abnjh!u1100a!pyuxn!pyuxww!mhuxm!mhuxl!ihnp4!drutx!druxu!tll From: tll@druxu.UUCP Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: "woman" as an adjective Message-ID: <899@druxu.UUCP> Date: Sat, 28-Jan-84 20:16:41 EST Article-I.D.: druxu.899 Posted: Sat Jan 28 20:16:41 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 1-Feb-84 01:19:54 EST Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver Lines: 30 The use of "woman" as an adjective (as in "woman astronaut" and "women engineers") is interesting in that it is an example in English where the adjective changes form depending on the number of the noun it modifies. This, I think, is unfortunate, since one of the nice features of English is that adjectives do not change form. Does anyone know why we use "woman" as an adjective instead of "female"? Is there some nasty connotation associated with "female" of which I'm not aware? I have only once heard "man" used as an adjective ("man nurse") and I thought it sounded pretty stupid. This usage of "woman" did not originate with the recent feminist movement (whatever that really means). The "League of Women Voters" has been around for a long time, although no dictionary I've checked has picked up this usage. Anyway, I have the following questions: 1) Why do we use "woman" instead of "female"? Alternately, why do we use the word "male" instead of "man"? (Maybe because it's the right word?) 2) Does anyone know of any other adjectives in English that change form in any way (reflecting a change in number, case, gender, etc. of the modified noun)? 3) Does anyone have a dictionary that includes this usage of "woman"? Tom Laidig AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver ...!ihnp4!druxu!tll