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[-] Ross_audio@lemmy.world 40 points 7 months ago

Like it or not "the wife" was a change in language seen as progressive not too long ago because it recognises that a man doesn't own a woman.

What would you prefer "my wife" implying ownership. "A wife" implying a non specific wife of anyone.

Or they name them on social media to avoid mentioning their marital status and ignoring their relationship to them.

I'm genuinely curious how this person should, in your view, refer to the person they've married.

[-] v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 45 points 7 months ago

My wife is absolutely fine in my books. The same way you can say my friend or my acquaintance or what have you, you can say my spouse/wife/husband/whatever without implying any sort of ownership. My view might be skewed being an ESL, but the same applies to German, Russian, Ukrainian, French, for example, which I speak too. I've never heard people complaining over those usages

[-] Ross_audio@lemmy.world 27 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I say either my wife, or the wife is fine.

I've just stated the reason "the wife" exists at all is a reaction against historical patriarchal language.

I've heard different people complain about both and they were always insufferable people trying to nit pick the conversation into a boring place.

Like you!

[-] tfw_no_toiletpaper@feddit.de 34 points 7 months ago

"my dad"

I do not own him. Wtf is that argument?? It's not a descriptor of ownership but relation.

[-] InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 22 points 7 months ago

"No he can't be YOUR dad, he's MY neighbor"
This whole thread's logic is whack.

[-] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago

Right? It is almost like "my" is a word which denotes association as well as ownership. Naw that can't be right.

[-] Ross_audio@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

I agree either my wife, or the wife is fine.

I've just stated the reason "the wife" exists at all is a reaction against historical patriarchal language.

[-] teamevil@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

People are stupid and looking for reasons to be offended. Usually it means their opinions are to be ignored as they simply exist to argue about non issues.

[-] v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 1 points 7 months ago
[-] Ulvain@sh.itjust.works 31 points 7 months ago

"My" can, but certainly doesn't always imply ownership. It implies that the qualifier for person B in the sentence is applied to their relationship to me, person A.

My banker, my hairdresser, my dentist, my accountant, my contractor, my neighbor, my boss, my elected official, etc.

Probably not at all on you, here, but this is a good example of "exaggerated progressivism" or fake-woke/politically correct speech. It weakens the credibility of the progressive movement and gives conservatives silly exaggerations to point to and mock, when this kind of stuff emerges.

Just my 2 cents!

[-] agent_flounder@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago

My banker, my hairdresser, my dentist, my accountant, my contractor, my neighbor, my boss, my elected official, etc.

Why do you have slaves? /s

[-] ThePantser@lemmy.world 29 points 7 months ago

I prefer the ole ball and chain. /s

[-] Gregorech@lemmy.world 19 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

The minister of war and finance.

[-] blipcast@lemmy.world 11 points 7 months ago

When I read "the wife", I read it as this. It feels impersonal, like you are intentionally distancing yourself from your spouse. Like, why would you do that unless you are literally Al Bundy?

[-] moody@lemmings.world 11 points 7 months ago

The ole battle axe

[-] SatyrSack@lemmy.one 15 points 7 months ago

"My mother" = I own my mother

[-] Ross_audio@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago

I agree either my wife, or the wife is fine.

I've just stated the reason "the wife" exists at all is a reaction against historical patriarchal language.

[-] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 7 months ago

NO! Everyone MUST speak how I do at all times, or they're WRONG!

There's only one way to speak, and any linguistic deviation will be reported to the POLICE!

[-] indepndnt@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

That's why I speak exclusively in Sting lyrics.

[-] Syrc@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago
[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 11 points 7 months ago

I don't know if "my" always means owning the noun it could mean co-owning the relationship. If I say "my partner" or "my kids" or "my job" I don't think most people think I am a slave owner who somehow has an unbreakable contract with work.

this post was submitted on 11 Feb 2024
1395 points (100.0% liked)

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