mayapuppies Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 If so, what would you call the female equivalent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? I think it's technically gender-neutral, although it's rare to see it used to describe females. That's probably because when used as an insult, the word is used on males. You probably already know the female equivalent in the latter case. Edit: Here's an interesting article on the matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmadanNaBriona Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? If so' date=' what would you call the female equivalent?[/quote'] Hmmm..... Interesting question. Right off the top of my head I'd say there probably isn't a specific female counterpart term, because the term originates with patrilineal inheritance and women thus couldn't inherit, so legitimacy isn't an issue, really. Whereas in a matrilineal system, there is NO doubt who the mother of a daughter is, thus no need for tracking "legitimacy". I could be wrong tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitz Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? Elizabeth the First was referred to on several occasions by the Spanish and others as a "bastard heretic", and her right to inherit the throne was questioned because of her bastardy (under Catholic law, her mother being Henry VIII's second wife after divorcing Catherine of Aragon) rather than her sex. The word is gender-neutral in English. I don't know about others, being pretty linguistically ignorant myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comic Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? Dose fargin bastiches. Dose iceholes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer Shrike Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? You could always just use the very unambiguous term "illegitimate" and avoid any confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkdguy Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? Oh, the temptation of making a joke about wielding an illegitimate sword! Good thing I was able to resist it. Or was I? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakram Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? Dose fargin bastiches. Dose iceholes. BWHAHAHA Let me guess Johnny Dangerously? How about for women a three word combo TEST TUBE BABY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayapuppies Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? Thanks everyone. I had planned on using it in a bit of story were it was a derogatory statement towards a woman who stands to inherit a small village. The society is not historically accurate but very equal in how they handle gender. The real issue is that her father is known, an unmarried knight who is the current mayor of the town, but her mother is a local trollop. So technically she isn't a "bastard" but is rather (as KS stated) illegitimate. But the original term is just so much more effective when doing the insult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maur Posted November 19, 2007 Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? Thanks everyone. I had planned on using it in a bit of story were it was a derogatory statement towards a woman who stands to inherit a small village. The society is not historically accurate but very equal in how they handle gender. The real issue is that her father is known, an unmarried knight who is the current mayor of the town, but her mother is a local trollop. So technically she isn't a "bastard" but is rather (as KS stated) illegitimate. But the original term is just so much more effective when doing the insult. A bastard is an illegitimate child. Doesn't matter if both or neither or only one parent is known. If they aren't married, then it is a bastard. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bastard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayapuppies Posted November 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? So it's not gender specific and does fit what I want it to. Thanks again for your help folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jogger Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? A female steward is called a stewardess, a female actor is called actress, therefore, logically, a female bastard would be called a bastardess. Just being silly, don't mind me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmadanNaBriona Posted November 22, 2007 Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? A female steward is called a stewardess, a female actor is called actress, therefore, logically, a female bastard would be called a bastardess. Just being silly, don't mind me. Damn..."You must spread..." Rep rules. That got a sudden laugh outta me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayapuppies Posted November 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2007 Re: Is the term "bastard", gender specific? LOL I got him for ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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