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[Misc] Use of pronoun “their” ?



Eeyore

Eeyore

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Apr 5, 2014
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Publius Ovidius said:
How about using “ it” if the gender is not defined....after all people do that with babies

So is “it”a girl or a boy...people have been doing that for years
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'girl' or 'boy' is a definition of sex not gender.

Don't worry, it confuses me too.
 






Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

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Jul 11, 2003
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The Fatherland




Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member
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Jul 11, 2003
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The Fatherland

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Herr Tubthumper

Herr Tubthumper

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CheeseRolls said:
That's what I reckoned. I think French would also cope.

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Click to expand...

But thinking about it, given we have three genders and the idea is that one doesn’t want to be any of them...maybe they’re non-trinary? It is confusing.
 






Washie

Washie

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Jun 20, 2011
5,580
Eastbourne
I doth not und'rstand the issue, language changes. The useth of c'rtain w'rds shall changeth ov'r timeth
 




BadFish

BadFish

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Oct 19, 2003
17,148
If it makes people feel a bit better about themselves, I am happy to accommodate it.

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B

Brovion

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SussexSeahawk said:
Language evolves. 200 years ago there was no word for computer as there was no need to use that word. When a new thing is invented we don't throw it out because we don't have a word for it, we adapt our language.

Clearly in the past people didn't see the need to have gender-neutral pronouns but that doesn't mean we shouldn't introduce a new pronoun that is gender-neutral. 'Their' is a word that is fairly similar in meaning anyway so makes a lot of sense to use that.
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Indeed. And they've done it by introducing the gender-neutral 'ze'. A new word to reflect the new times. Leave 'they and their' (which admittedly can be occasionally used as singular pronouns but are more commonly used as plurals) to their current usage and embrace the new. Why confuse things? It's hard enough to keep up as it is.
 




Albion my Albion

Albion my Albion

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Bob'n'weave

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Nov 18, 2016
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Brovion said:
Indeed. And they've done it by introducing the gender-neutral 'ze'. A new word to reflect the new times. Leave 'they and their' (which admittedly can be occasionally used as singular pronouns but are more commonly used as plurals) to their current usage and embrace the new. Why confuse things? It's hard enough to keep up as it is.
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Tip of the iceberg.

https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/

I'm as confused as the next person, but not adverse to changes in the language that address gender issues. I struggle with the scope of language being used though, and am not sure about 'compelled speech' legislation that makes refusal to use them a hate crime. All seems a bit Orwellian to me.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/br...aw-to-use-reasonable-pronouns-like-ze-and-zer
 


B

Brovion

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Bob'n'weave said:
Tip of the iceberg.

https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/

I'm as confused as the next person, but not adverse to changes in the language that address gender issues. I struggle with the scope of language being used though, and am not sure about 'compelled speech' legislation that makes refusal to use them a hate crime. All seems a bit Orwellian to me.

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/br...aw-to-use-reasonable-pronouns-like-ze-and-zer
Click to expand...

Blimey you weren't kidding!

Even that website though admits that the use of they/their as single pronouns is contentious and was more an imperfect historical workaround to get round the fact that English never had a gender-neutral pronoun. Given the huge array of new terms available that problem no longer exists so I don't know why some reactionary, antediluvian stick-in-the muds want to go on using it in a flawed historic manner when we have evolved new words to deal with the gender-neutral situation now.

Tell Sam Smith (and anybody else) to embrace the modern world.
 








B

Brovion

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[MENTION=17447]Bakero[/MENTION] That website also says we'll be arguing about its useage for centuries to come!
 


B

Brightonrock01

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May 22, 2017
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Augusta, Ga, USA
SussexSeahawk said:
Language evolves. 200 years ago there was no word for computer as there was no need to use that word. When a new thing is invented we don't throw it out because we don't have a word for it, we adapt our language.

Clearly in the past people didn't see the need to have gender-neutral pronouns but that doesn't mean we shouldn't introduce a new pronoun that is gender-neutral. 'Their' is a word that is fairly similar in meaning anyway so makes a lot of sense to use that.
Click to expand...

Whilst on holiday in Kenya, I found out that there is still no word in Swahili for Hovercraft!! I was attempting to learn the phrase 'My hovercraft is full of eels' - my favourite phrase to learn in any language - only to be let down.

We live & learn :)
 


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