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View Poll Results: Do you want English to have a genderless pronoun? | |||
No. | 37 | 48.05% | |
He works for me. | 7 | 9.09% | |
She works for me. | 0 | 0% | |
He/she works for me | 0 | 0% | |
Alternating he and she in example works for me. | 1 | 1.30% | |
Yes. | 32 | 41.56% | |
Voters: 77. You may not vote on this poll |
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07-17-2012, 12:12 AM | #1 |
Defender of Consciousness
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Is it time English adopt a genderless pronoun?
I do a bit of technical writing and I can't stand the he/she or he or alternating he then she every other example. So want a genderless pronoun. How about you?
Have fun, Jan Tailor Last edited by bigjantailor; 07-17-2012 at 12:17 AM. |
07-17-2012, 01:37 AM | #2 |
cacoethes scribendi
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How about it?
More seriously, doesn't they and their etc. cover most of the requirement? I came across this article recently: A singular use of they. |
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07-17-2012, 01:45 AM | #3 | |
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07-17-2012, 02:17 AM | #4 |
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It's always them what causes us problems.
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07-17-2012, 05:26 AM | #5 |
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Another vote for singular they.
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07-17-2012, 07:35 AM | #6 |
Wizard
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Yeah, I am seeing "they" used more and more. I personally use it, as I think it is much cleaner then "he or she."
Of course there is always himer and shim |
07-17-2012, 07:49 AM | #7 |
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The word "hen"=someone genderless/androgynous is being used more and more in Sweden. Otherwise it's "hon"=her and "han"=him.
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07-17-2012, 09:15 AM | #8 |
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I've seen "hir" and "zir" used a fair bit. I'll be honest, though, I kinda prefer "they." It doesn't require us bringing more words into the vocabulary.
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07-17-2012, 09:22 AM | #9 | |
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Quote:
Aack. Since there are no "genderless" people that I know of, I do not want to read a "genderless" pronoun. Now, I know there are a lot of people out there confused about their gender, I'm sure, but the "he/she" solution would work best for me and them. |
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07-17-2012, 09:23 AM | #10 |
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Yuk, no need to make up nonsense words.
The correct English usage for something of definite but unknown gender is he. However that is no longer socially acceptable (even though linguistically correct), and they is by far the best alternative. So my answer to the poll would be: In practice, it already does Last edited by murraypaul; 07-17-2012 at 09:27 AM. |
07-17-2012, 02:57 PM | #11 |
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There is an ungendered manner of refering to she or he: "that person".
As murraypaul said, if you don't know, it' "he". Here in Brazil it's the same (portuguese language). |
07-17-2012, 03:03 PM | #12 | |
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07-17-2012, 03:24 PM | #13 |
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When I first saw the heading, I thought that someone was seeking the answer to how we refer to transgenders.
There are now categories given on some checklists and questionnaires like: Sex/gender: . other . non-specified . changeable . "work in progress" ... How do we, can we, or do we try to indicate these in a casual dialog, in a more formal dialog, and finally in a deterministic manner? Do we end up seemingly trying to solidify a wisp of vapor. |
07-17-2012, 03:26 PM | #14 |
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The only thing correct about "he" is someone saying it is correct. Language changes. "He" is a holdover from when it could be assumed that that the person in question was male. It became increasingly illogical over time. "He or she" is clumsy, "s/he" is awkward at best, and how do you say it? "It" implies a thing rather than a person. We could adopt words like "zir", but that's not going to happen.
Singular "they" is here to stay, it's the most natural solution. It's not a new idea, it's been used as a singular for centuries. |
07-17-2012, 06:47 PM | #15 |
K. C. Lee
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In my technical translation work I tend to use "they" just to play safe.
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