khajit wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 10:32 am
Duolingo is teaching people incorrect English. Please remove it, it makes the app look like it doesn't know what it's doing.
I recently suggested that the "Title" for these forums be changed because it could lead to confusion as these forums do not belong to Duolingo —nor the participants work for them. Duome and Duolingo are different entities:
IceVajal wrote: ↑Mon May 29, 2023 2:21 pm
Sure, things change, but you can't force Duolingo to change. Perhaps they do, but Duome can't change Duolingo.
Therefore, regarding your request, the following remains the best advice:
eI000yo wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 11:04 am
Hi @khajit !
Most likely you are right.
But you have to email Duolingo, or send them a complain. See please How do I report a bug?, or try their social media.
Duome Request forum is for Duome related topics only.
*** changing with times
I don't see you point of view as mistaken in any way. The understanding of the world has changed, the protocols and ways of speaking have always been changing, but especially more so in these fast-paced times.
- Do You Still Call People Sir or Ma’am? Stop it! (2021)
It’s true that we’ve been using formal titles for years, but these days, many English speaking cultures are becoming less formal.
Whether you agree with this shift in formality isn’t important and it’s something you can’t control. Your job isn’t to be the “language police,” but rather to understand how to use words to communicate as effectively as possible.
Alternative #1 – Omit it
Alternative #2 - Use their name (if you know it)
I do have, however, two observations about a couple of contradictions in your comments:
- regarding titles being old-fashioned
- regarding people's response to how they are called… or not
*** titles being old-fashioned
Regarding titles being old-fashioned you have contradicted yourself, though I don't see this as a matter of logic but of not taking into account how this same topic applies to other language-related aspects.
khajit wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 10:05 am
The Idea that a person deserves a special title when spoken to is extremely old fashioned, and from a by gone era.
khajit wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 11:31 am
You don't need to point out someones gender or status. the year is 2023 not 1823.
[…]
You don't need a title, it's superfluous.
I definitely don't think that those are actual truthful statements in this 2023. In many English-speaking countries —particularly— the situation is precisely the opposite, and there is an ongoing war because of that: people are demanding to be called exactly the way they want to be called (regardless of tradition and language rules).
So, we have actually arrived to a stricter title-enforcing-era, where anyone can demand whatever title they want to have, like… "please don't address me as he you must address me as sweet fluffy nebula"
*** people's response to how they are called or not called
I see this particular point as a more serious problem. I will only reference the following post, but there are others expressing the same idea.
khajit wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 11:31 am
If an old person in the US is offended because I don't call them Ma'am then they are old fashioned and or elitist, and need to grow up and stop living in the past.
[…] Ma'am and Sir are not used in English only in areas of extreme formality, It's only still used in the south of the US due to the legacy of slavery. It's sad and offensive.
Therefore, independently of whether one uses the term (second paragraph) or not (first paragraph), someone, somewhere, will certainly get offended because of it
If someone wants and is going to get into the "please respect me" game, then that person should show the same courtesy to everyone else; no exceptions allowed.
— What am I?
— Well, I see you as a cisgendered man…
— I am not a cis-anything…
— If I may assume…
— I am not a cis-anything… I'm just a man!
— Remember you are a cisgendered man…
— No, I am not a cisgendered anything!
— But hang on…
— What does "cis" mean?
— Well, that means you were born the way you identify…
— No, I'm just born a man!
— But someone that transitions…
— Why do you insist on calling me something I am not?!
Otherwise, there is no point in debating and trying to enforce protocolary actions because the following "rule" should then apply to each and everyone (once again, no exceptions allowed):
khajit wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 10:05 am
Whether or not those people that are offended need a thicker skin is another argument entirely and not relevant here
And just to make the logic behind really clear, because it is relevant:
- If people that get offended for not being called ma'am need a thicker skin, then [sorry to say], but people that get offended for being called ma'am also need a thicker skin
We humans tend to always like things one-sided, and that is why fallacies often arise.
Anyway, if I were on your side of the fence I wouldn't fight much over this: the term ma'am will certainly vanish because even if people disagree and are unwilling to stop using it, they'll end up complying because there's nothing worse than being on the politically incorrect side
ㆍenglish ㆍgeneral ㆍdebate ㆍinteresting