Aneta Němcová
To allow not use "-ová" or not? That is the question! There is a new law in the Czech republic. The parliament have ratified that Czech women can choose not to have female suffix "-ová" in their surnames. Since this year it was allowed only in case of marring foreigner or in case of moving abroad. Now it is allowed if the woman wish not to use that suffix regardless her reason. As usually, there are protests againist those strange new things. Some people (especially men in their fifties or sixties) are really mad about it. I agree that in Czech language using male form of surname for woman sounds strange since it is not conjugated in this case, but I do not see it as a big problem. Beside it, majority of women will still be using female form of surnames even though they can choose not to use that. They also complain about not being able to recognise if they are speaking to man or woman without proper male/female form of surnames. Therefore, I am asking you as those whose languages do not distinguish between male and female form of surnames whether you have a problem with realising sex of people you are speaking to.
Sep 23, 2021 11:13 AM
Corrections · 1
To allow not use "-ová" or not? That is the question! There is a new law in the Czech republic. The parliament have ratified that Czech women can choose not to have female suffix "-ová" in their surnames. Since this year it was allowed only in case of marring foreigner or in case of moving abroad. Now it is allowed if the woman wish not to use that suffix regardless her reason. As usually, there are protests againist those strange new things. Some people (especially men in their fifties or sixties) are really mad about it. I agree that in Czech language using male form of surname for woman sounds strange since it is not conjugated in this case, but I do not see it as a big problem. Beside it, majority of women will still be using female form of surnames even though they can choose not to use that. They also complain about not being able to recognise if they are speaking to man or woman without proper male/female form of surnames. Therefore, I am asking you as those whose languages do not distinguish between male and female form of surnames whether you have a problem with realising sex of people you are speaking to.
September 23, 2021
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