Terminology Questions
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 11:42 am
As I'm sure has been true for a lot of people, I have had some questions about the terminology used with reference to the general subject of this website, so I thought I'd mention a few of those questions and see what the general consensus on them would be.
I think someone stated in a previous message (a while ago) that a woman whose ovaries had been removed, could be referred to as a eunuch, but I have never seen this usage in print. Nevertheless, considering that the surgery sterilizes the woman and causes a variety of physiological changes, you would think that there is a specific and non-medical term to designate a woman as someone who has had this type of surgery. The only thing close to that sort of designation which I have ever seen, was in either the novel 1984 by Orwell or in BRAVE NEW WORLD by Huxley, in which some women, through genetic manipulation, were made to grow up as infertile females. The term used for them in the book was, "freemartin." Never saw the word used elsewhere. There is a term in Spanish, "manco," which refers to a man who has had one arm amputated--perhaps Spanish or some other language has a word to refer specifically to a woman whose gonads have been removed.
Another question relates to the hijras. I have seen them referred to both as hijras and as kinnars. I wonder if there is any difference in the meaning of the two words in Hindi. I think there is some question as to whether the word "hijra" necessarily refers to someone whose sex organs have been removed, since hijra communities commonly include persons who haven't had the surgery.
One medical distinction which I have wondered about, is the difference between "penectomy" and "peotomy." Both, of course, are used to refer to removal of the penis. There are many more search results for "penectomy" than for "peotomy." Still, peotomy seems like a more attractive word, with an almost musical quality--you could get the impression that it is associated with the doctor playing the organ, instead of lopping it off. Perhaps there is some distinction between the two words, in terms of whether only the external part of the penis is removed, or if the internal root of the organ is also taken out.
As you know, a prominent Florida eunuch (prominent in the eunuch community, anyway) uses the name "gelding." The word, of course, is much more often used with reference to horses, although I think the Oxford dictionary traces its use with reference to people, back several centuries. I have also seen both "capon" and "steer" used to refer to humans who have had their gonads removed. The question I would raise is whether, in general, it is considered proper usage to employ any of these terms which are ordinarily used in reference to animals, to describe humans whose gonads have been excised.
Another question relates to the terms "orchiectomy" and "orchidectomy." I have seen both used on this message board, and you can get lots of search engine results for either. Which is considered the preferred term, or, which is the preferred spelling? (of course, the two words are pronounced differently.)
I have rarely seen the term "emasculation" used on this message board--yet that is, to my knowledge, the only non-medical term which refers specifically to the removal of the testes from a person. Of course, since the word also has at least one other meaning--to remove something of significance from a printed book--perhaps people feel that the word is less clear than other terms pertaining to removal of the testes. "Fix," "alter," and "work over," are used at times to refer to removal of the gonads, but also may refer to other things.
I think I saw a post in German on this board, in which the word "ring" was used for the elastic item used with an elastrator. The word "band" seems to be in more common usage. I think that, on the farm, the word "rubber" was used rather than either of the others. Are "band" and "ring" interchangeable in discussing the item involved?
I'm sure there are other terms, the usage of which might be discussed, but I can't think of any at the moment.
I think someone stated in a previous message (a while ago) that a woman whose ovaries had been removed, could be referred to as a eunuch, but I have never seen this usage in print. Nevertheless, considering that the surgery sterilizes the woman and causes a variety of physiological changes, you would think that there is a specific and non-medical term to designate a woman as someone who has had this type of surgery. The only thing close to that sort of designation which I have ever seen, was in either the novel 1984 by Orwell or in BRAVE NEW WORLD by Huxley, in which some women, through genetic manipulation, were made to grow up as infertile females. The term used for them in the book was, "freemartin." Never saw the word used elsewhere. There is a term in Spanish, "manco," which refers to a man who has had one arm amputated--perhaps Spanish or some other language has a word to refer specifically to a woman whose gonads have been removed.
Another question relates to the hijras. I have seen them referred to both as hijras and as kinnars. I wonder if there is any difference in the meaning of the two words in Hindi. I think there is some question as to whether the word "hijra" necessarily refers to someone whose sex organs have been removed, since hijra communities commonly include persons who haven't had the surgery.
One medical distinction which I have wondered about, is the difference between "penectomy" and "peotomy." Both, of course, are used to refer to removal of the penis. There are many more search results for "penectomy" than for "peotomy." Still, peotomy seems like a more attractive word, with an almost musical quality--you could get the impression that it is associated with the doctor playing the organ, instead of lopping it off. Perhaps there is some distinction between the two words, in terms of whether only the external part of the penis is removed, or if the internal root of the organ is also taken out.
As you know, a prominent Florida eunuch (prominent in the eunuch community, anyway) uses the name "gelding." The word, of course, is much more often used with reference to horses, although I think the Oxford dictionary traces its use with reference to people, back several centuries. I have also seen both "capon" and "steer" used to refer to humans who have had their gonads removed. The question I would raise is whether, in general, it is considered proper usage to employ any of these terms which are ordinarily used in reference to animals, to describe humans whose gonads have been excised.
Another question relates to the terms "orchiectomy" and "orchidectomy." I have seen both used on this message board, and you can get lots of search engine results for either. Which is considered the preferred term, or, which is the preferred spelling? (of course, the two words are pronounced differently.)
I have rarely seen the term "emasculation" used on this message board--yet that is, to my knowledge, the only non-medical term which refers specifically to the removal of the testes from a person. Of course, since the word also has at least one other meaning--to remove something of significance from a printed book--perhaps people feel that the word is less clear than other terms pertaining to removal of the testes. "Fix," "alter," and "work over," are used at times to refer to removal of the gonads, but also may refer to other things.
I think I saw a post in German on this board, in which the word "ring" was used for the elastic item used with an elastrator. The word "band" seems to be in more common usage. I think that, on the farm, the word "rubber" was used rather than either of the others. Are "band" and "ring" interchangeable in discussing the item involved?
I'm sure there are other terms, the usage of which might be discussed, but I can't think of any at the moment.