I find the words "men" and "women" very hard to hear or distinguish from many other words. There's no plosive sound in them, and they have soft vowels. The words doesn't stick out at all for me. I don't know how early on I gave up trying to get my spouse, who's also a caller, to use words other than "men" and "women" for the role terms. It's always been a frustration for me. It was a great satisfaction when we switched to Larks and Ravens. I can hear those. As someone who wears hearing aids that's a big deal. I need to hear the words above the music, the chatter, and the sound of feet.
-Amy

On Tue, Feb 7, 2023, 11:08 AM Julian Blechner via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
So you're NOT in favor of trying Oaks / Maples, then, right? :D

-Julian

On Tue, Feb 7, 2023 at 1:08 PM Becky Liddle via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
Hi Ken,
The non-gendered dance groups have settled (after MUCH debate and deep consideration) on larks and robins. The gendered folks are attached to gents and ladies. If you’re going to learn something new, I’d highly recommend the “avian” labels since those are the settled non-gendered terms. Introducing a 3rd (or 17th) non-gendered term would just make things harder for callers who already have to be able to switch between gents/ladies and larks/robins. If I had been in charge of the world I’d have chosen lakes (left) and rivers (right) myself. But those aren’t inherently better or worse than larks & robins. What matters is that we found something we can all live with that is consistent across groups. This ship has sailed! :-)
Becky

On Feb 7, 2023, at 12:30 PM, K P via Contra Callers <contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hey all,

As I was researching a response to Amy's (Wimmer) Rompin' Stompin' question, I happened across dances transcribed/written by Chris Page (I note Chris has slso responded Amy's thread) and renewed acquaintance with the gentlespoons/ladles terms.


Does anyone use those terms while calling?

I've not yet returned to contra (pandemic) so haven't yet faced adapting to the rising avian terminology, but Chris's terms, while a little humourous to my mind, seem quite logical. (I suppose there is the risk that gentlespoons is, necessarily, abbreviated to... you know).

No, I'm start trying to start a movement! :) I'm just curious.

Ken Panton 
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