Category: Language Publisher: Sapien Books
ISBN-10: 0969027729
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 246
Copyright: May 20, 2010
ISBN-13: 9780969027720
The patriarchal embedding of lies in language greatly harmed our species. Inclusive names and neutral symbols are suggested to eliminate the lies.
An ancient law of subjugation in 2400BCE and subsequent laws of slavery lead to 4000 years of patriarchy slavery and feudalism. Language was manipulated to fit this order to keep it intact. As a result lies about our species are embedded in many names and symbols along gender lines that are still in use today.
A look at our species through the lens of language
In "An Inconvenient Lie" the many harms patriarchal language did to both genders and the species are discussed and explained. The language imposed 2 = 1 as a formula that works and 'Q is and is not Q' as a Truth. It is shown that the lack of moral honesty in patriarchal language created lines of "enemies" by by gender, race, and class establishing false opposites and extremes in beliefs.
The author Louise Goueffic shows that there are names that are neutral and symbols that include both genders by definition. She builds on this knowledge and keeping true-to-reality goes on to proffer a theory of inclusiveness that exposes the patriarchal practice of exclusiveness that keeps people -as enemies- believing in extremes and false opposites.
Our product, An Inconvenient Lie, is priced at $28.95 by Sapien Books. It has never been at a higher price as marked on some sites.
Excerpt
Probabilities, on the other hand, build truer fallible plans among more honest thinkers and symbol makers so that mind can become the sufficient organ that we ourselves evolved it to be in the millions of years with evolution. Page 80
Professional Reviews
Endorsement
Louise Gouëffic’s An Inconvenient Lie is a must read for all of us concerned about our planet and what it means to be a member of our species today. “Enough is enough” she says. Her detailed analysis of our symbols shows how, and with what consequences, our language has advanced the interests of only one-half of the species: patriarchy. The other, “fem” is made absent, invisible, less than equal, an appendage, a plaything. Gouëffic exposes these mind games in order to reveal what is at work and to make present these absences. Only when we all learn to think for ourselves, she argues, will we have the basis for a more equal and genuine society.
Susan L. Robertson, Professor, Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol UK; Coordinator, Globalization and Europeanization Network in Education; Coordinator, Centre for Globalization, Education and Societies, and Editor, Globalization, Societies and Education.
Kirkus
A passionate, logically jagged, linguistic-based argument of man’s subdual and suppression of women.
There is a lie being told, passed around not merely from person to person, but from generation to generation and its destructive powers are great. Such is the force with which Louise Goueffic attacks symbol-makers and users, with scarcely anyone safe from her criticisms. Starting with Manu in 2400 B.C., the author weaves her polemic against man’s creation of words aimed at separating off, rising above and distinguishing themselves as the idealized part of our species. The other half—the feme—is subjugated by man to a mere add-on, to wo-man. Words such as “human,” “mankind” and “woman” built from “man,” or having “ver” (man), “fir” (tree/phallic) or “sem” (semen) as in “universe,” “world,” “firmament,” or “seminal” respectively, has man placing himself over and above all, projecting himself outward, making himself the alpha male, the godhead. But according to Goueffic, there is a solution—the Rofemtic movement, “the movement to re-establish true-to-reality symbols and truths”; its heart is the idea that we establish man not as man, but as male, and fem as fem.
Reader's review
Louise Gouëffic’s “An Inconvenient Lie” has us look at the language addressing us and our species. Written in everyday speech almost free of academic jargon she argues that the names used in the present theory of what we our species is are false. She can’t seem to hide her anger about the deception in the first half of the book as she passionately describes the beliefs the theory created and the harms it did to almost all of us. In the second half she gives solutions and proposes a theory of inclusiveness “true-to-reality.”
This book is a must read for those of us concerned about our species and our planet.
Patricia Walsh, London ON
