Is there any connection to the SHAPE of the exclamation point and the question mark and the beliefs about masculinity/femininity?
The exclamation point's shape is masculine - phallic, strong, straight, stiff, & represents confident, surety, and authority .
The question mark shape is feminine - round, shapely, curved, a vessel, womb-like & represents in language weakness, the unknown, in need of help, uncertainty.
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I have no idea what the origin of the these two marks are, but I would love to know if these concepts of masculine/feminine played a part in determining the actual shape of the mark.
How interesting and insightful. Old dr. Freud must be sitting up thinking how did I miss this?
The exact origins aren't known, so far as I can tell. One theory seems to be that ! developed from the Latin word IO and ? developed from the Latin word QVAESTIO, just as $ developed from the Spanish word Peseta. Whatever the origin, I see no reason to believe that the shapes were chosen for their perceived gender qualities. That theory seems entirely fanciful.
So let me tell another theory. This one is kinda reverse and assumes the shape of the question mark as being something literally universally accepted, the theory itself will clear up what 'literally universally' means.
They say that the ear is shaped like a question mark since you hear the answers of your questions with it!
Now one might argue: "Don't you do so through your eyes?"
-Well, it is what it is. I Â didn't come up with that!!
I still like the theory at top, more intriguing for not having any explanations from history. Too bad no one else has picked up.
It is as good as anything the psychology specialists ever put out, including old Freud.