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novin_haJust wondering...
A question to my dear Native Speakers of English.
Situation A
You've been robbed. You call for a policeman or a police officer?
Situation B
You see a man wearing the characteristic uniform. You say, "Look, a policeman" or, "Look, a police officer?"
Situation C
You see a woman wearing the characteristic uniform. You say, "Look, a policewoman", "Look, a police officer" or something else?
I just don't know what's political correctness, what's being rude, this kind of thing. What do you say in 2006?
PS: (boasting) I have written what quite possibly is the first Doctor Who fanfiction in Polish. This feels weird, but also very pleasant ;] (/boasting)
On the subject of fruit salads? They're good.
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your livejournal along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.
I enjoy:
1. The Killers "Mr Brightside"
2. Archive "Lights"
3. Basement Jaxx "Take Me Back To Your House"
4. Guano Apes "Tribute"
5. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds "The Carny"
6. Nine Inch Nails "Something I Can Never Have"
7. Moloko "The Time Is Now"
These are just some of ones I'm into at the moment, actually. No tags, because I try to be a meme killer.
A question to my dear Native Speakers of English.
Situation A
You've been robbed. You call for a policeman or a police officer?
Situation B
You see a man wearing the characteristic uniform. You say, "Look, a policeman" or, "Look, a police officer?"
Situation C
You see a woman wearing the characteristic uniform. You say, "Look, a policewoman", "Look, a police officer" or something else?
I just don't know what's political correctness, what's being rude, this kind of thing. What do you say in 2006?
PS: (boasting) I have written what quite possibly is the first Doctor Who fanfiction in Polish. This feels weird, but also very pleasant ;] (/boasting)
On the subject of fruit salads? They're good.
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your livejournal along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to.
I enjoy:
1. The Killers "Mr Brightside"
2. Archive "Lights"
3. Basement Jaxx "Take Me Back To Your House"
4. Guano Apes "Tribute"
5. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds "The Carny"
6. Nine Inch Nails "Something I Can Never Have"
7. Moloko "The Time Is Now"
These are just some of ones I'm into at the moment, actually. No tags, because I try to be a meme killer.
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(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-29 11:52 pm (UTC)Both. I would use the terms interchangeably.
Saying "police officer" in all circumstances would be politically correct, but even someone who is not politically correct would say officer (instead of man or woman) some of the time.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 05:28 pm (UTC)::just knows there must be a hook somewhere:: ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 12:07 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 12:22 am (UTC)However, if you look at the BBC website, they use policeman for one policeman, and police officers for lots of policemen/women. And usually, the use the word the police for lots of policemen/women.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:32 pm (UTC)I'm striving to be as close to linguist perfection as possible ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 05:18 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:31 pm (UTC)::is bursting with enthusiasm:: :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 07:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 01:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:28 pm (UTC)Common-sensical approach.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 04:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 06:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-11-30 08:57 pm (UTC)Yep, I'd say they're interchangeable, although 'policeman' would probably be what I'd say more quickly, to friends, and 'police officer' is something I'd say if I was speaking to someone I didn't know well and was concerned about sounding correct and polite. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-12-01 12:50 pm (UTC)Folks around my neck of the woods say "police" most often.
For B and C: If it's obviously a man, you might hear policeman most often. If it's obviously a woman, that's when you might hear "police officer" though I don't hear that term often. It sounds very formal. Some folks might call the female cop a policeman, and some folks just say "the police" even if there's only one officer around.
"Look, it's the police." Might be said about many policemen, one policeman, or a policewoman.
"Go get that policeman on the corner." might be said regardless of gender.
"Hello, officer. Was I doing something wrong?" Generally policemen/women are addressed directly as "officer."
Like most spoken English, there's a lot of different usage.