On gentlespoons/ladles, that's the "default" nomenclature set up for contradb.com--EXPLICITLY BECAUSE it's so ridiculous that it "forces" a user to change their dialect to the terms being called at their dance series. (Larks/robins, ladies/gents, a couple other defaults I don't recall off the cuff, and any custom term set is supported). We just didn't want to drive off users by "looking like" we were prescribing one term set or another. The downside is if you take a screenshot of a dance when you're not logged in, it gives ladles/gentlespoons... sorry!
I was one who "last heard" that the terms were larks/ravens pre-pandemic, and have now switched to larks/robins in my local dance series. I'm nervous about teaching courtesy turns to a group where 0 dancers have experience, but that's only my hangup to address as a caller. (And I'm just circumventing it until i gain confidence, which I'm sure I'll work up soon.) I've had no pushback from my dancers. (The only feedback I've gotten at a break once was "is larks/ravens so you don't have to call us men and women?" I nodded. "That's smart!" was the reply.)
I still have great trouble reading dances written with Larks/Ravens – for me the L means Ladies means the ones on the right. I have to think twice to understand the notation.
When I am using gendered terms (which many of my groups/customers still prefer) I would rather use Men than Gents. It has a much clearer sound.
_______________________________________________
Contra Callers mailing list -- contracallers@lists.sharedweight.net
To unsubscribe send an email to contracallers-leave@lists.sharedweight.net
--
Pardon brevity; sent by smartphone.