Catherine wrote
> Hey, it ain't me, Fred - Joni's constantly complaining > about being called the best *female* or *woman* > singer/ songwriter/ whatever. I think when it comes to > talent, a person's sex shouldn't make any difference. > I have a hard time with the actor/actress thing too - > I'm too used to saying actress when it's a woman. > Alhough men and women are both singers, not singers > and singesses. We're awfully inconsistent about that. > Well, in an odd sort of way, females have the better of it in terms of clarity of terminology. For example, I could say that Anthony Hopkins is my favorite actor, but the listener would not know if I meant he was my favorite male actor or my favorite overall actor. Because of the 'standard' carelessness of speakers in general ( as well as the logic 101 of it), I could also say that Meryl Streep is my favorite actress, and one would still not know whether she was also my overall favorite. But if I call Meryl my favorite actor (as I often do), there is no doubt what I mean. There is no simple term available for me to convey the same thought about a male. I think women can also be songstresses, in theory paving the way for a parallel clarity to the actor /actress terms noted above. As in, "Joni Mitchell is my favorite singer" (leaving no doubt where there already was none). :-) Bob'sart
