All big companies are under increasing pressure not just to sell their widgets but to take a stance on the hot-button issues of the day
Two decades later, various automatic aids to writing, including spelling and grammar-checkers, are much better. They are both more discerning—powered by artificial intelligence rather than manually programmed—and more subtle in their operations. Many writers are grateful for their interventions.
The tech company is right to see a problem. Though it doesn’t fit in the same category as spelling errors or grammatical quandaries, sexist bias is shot through the English language, as well as others. Consider the lack of female equivalent for “master” that lacks unpleasant secondary meanings. “Slut” and “whore” are the types of slurs so gendered they are rarely hurled at men.
A solution in English is to prefer newer, genderless titles like “mail carrier” and “police officer”. But even here there are difficulties. Some titles seem especially ugly in this form: no one seems to love “chairperson” and even though “chair” is fine for some observers, others cannot see past the piece of furniture. There is further disagreement over whether such forms should be universal or whether it is acceptable to call a male officer a “policeman”.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Google Cofounders Page And Brin Selling Alphabet Shares After Years Of No SalesThe two have sold $448 million worth of Alphabet stock since May—in their first sales since 2017.
Read more »
Google Warns On Password StrengthGoogle Chrome warns you about compromised passwords. It’s a very good idea to heed these warnings.
Read more »
Google Warns On Password StrengthGoogle Chrome warns you about compromised passwords. It’s a very good idea to heed these warnings.
Read more »
France fines Google $267 million for abusing 'dominant position' in online advertisingFrance's competition watchdog has fined Google 220 million euros ($268 million) for abusing its market power in the online advertising industry.
Read more »
Google Settles French Advertising Antitrust Case for $268MAlphabet’s Google has settled a French advertising antitrust case for 220 million euros ($268 million). France’s Autorite de la Concurrence, the country’s competition authority, s…
Read more »
France watchdog fines Google $267M for favouring own ads over rivals’Google says it will test changes to its widely used online advertising services over coming months following the decision. The media giant plans to roll these changes out “more broadly, including some globally”.
Read more »