Sexi in the English Language through Asymmetrical Phenomenon论文

Abstract：This thesis focuses on the asymmetrical phenomenon, which reflected in the extensive usage of masculine words, the marked female words and unmarked male words, positive words for males and negative words for females, and etc. Finally, the thesis puts forward some ways of fighting against sexi. Sexi is a society problem, which can be traced to its historical and cultural sources. In order to achieve non-sexi in language，social sexi should be eliminated first.
　　Key Word： sexi; asymmetrical phenomenon; masculine words; derogation of female words
　　

1.Introduction

　　As a product of society and one special communicative methods of human, language reflects all the aspects of human society naturally. Language isn’t sexi in itself, but when referring to language and sex, people immediately think of sexi. Sexi was put forth after the discovery of linguistic asymmetry. The asymmetrical phenomenon in English language is theoretically based on Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which has a great influence on the research between language and culture.
　　2. Reflection of asymmetrical phenomenon in English language
　　Linguistic asymmetry is one of the traditional approaches to the study of the sexi against women in language. Hellinger(1989)in her article “Revising the Patriarchal Paradigm Language Changed Feminist Language Politics”[1] (Quoted from Tang Jinwen, 2002) looks back over a rather long period of time concerning the research of sexi against women in language.
　　2.1. Asymmetrical phenomenon reflected in masculine language as standard whereas feminine language as subordinate
　　2.1.1 .the extensive usage of masculine words
　　That “men embrace women” is a relatively recent rationalization in the history of the language. In 1746，John Kirkby formulated his “Eighty-eight Grammatical Rules.”[2] (Quoted from Zhu Li, 2004). These are the product of Mr. Kirkby’s own imagination. Rule No.21 stated that the male gender was more comprehensive than the female，which is a movetowards the concept that male is the norm，but woman is only the subordination or variation. In this way, women are always made invisible.
　　The fact that the word “man”, “mankind” and “he” are used as terms for the human race reflects male dominance in society, women is subordinate to man. Let’s see the following sentence: “Man can do their best to conquer nature.” And “Man must to work to eat.” The “man” in the two sentences refers to all people, while women he to determine whether they are included. Another gender-related reflection is in the use of masculine forms, such as: mankind, chairman, fireman, businesan, etc. Such words are masculine-specified terms, and they are ambiguous and discriminatory, women he to be subordinate with a male symbol on this occasion.