Sunday, May 10, 2009

Miss interpreted



California is a big state and it has many daughters. I have known California girls that were very nice, and some that were pretty dippy. I can only hope that Miss Prejean belongs to the former group. But the real question is, is a question about homosexual marriage legitimate in a competition called “Miss USA” in the first place?
Gender and gender relations is something that is deeply entrenched in Indo-European languages (and probably almost all other languages on the planet).
In France a women might be either a Madame or a Mademoiselle, in Germany she might be a Frau or a Fraulein, depending on her marital status, and in England its Miss or Missis. It is interesting that English gives the maidens the shorter title, but then English is not known for its conformity, but, it does agree with the others on one thing, there is no distinction on the masculine, Monsieur, Herr, Mister. This philological principle seems to convey a simple understanding; there is a changer and a changed. The very proposition of a Miss suggests linguistically the transformation to Missis via a Mister.
There of course is the rather enigmatic accolade “Ms.” (pronounced mezz) used primarily for women of undetermined or compromised marital status. However, I checked the official website today, and it is still calling itself the Miss (not the Ms.) USA pageant. So the question of homosexual marriage in that context is simply a linguistic absurdity.