Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site oddjob.UChicago.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!gargoyle!oddjob!sra From: sra@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP (Scott Anderson) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Re: "Their" as a substitute for his/her Message-ID: <558@oddjob.UChicago.UUCP> Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 04:21:50 EST Article-I.D.: oddjob.558 Posted: Mon Jan 14 04:21:50 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 15-Jan-85 01:31:10 EST References: <717@ihuxa.UUCP> Organization: U. Chicago: Astronomy & Astrophysics Lines: 19 > While the point that "they" is a genderless substitute for "she" > or "he" is well taken, it appears (to me at least) to open the > door to greater ambiguity. It is not apparent to me, based upon > the limited context of the statement, to whom "they" refers. > "Our guest speakers will arrive shortly. Everyone should > sit down when they arrive." > - and - > "Standing in this room is forbidden. Everyone should sit > down when they arrive." If the second sentence is taken out of context, there may indeed be ambiguity, but I think that in the above two examples, it is apparent to everyone to whom the "they" refers. Contextual distinction of this sort is used extensively in some languages, e.g. Spanish, where pronouns are seldom used except when really necessary to avoid ambiguity, or to provide emphasis. Scott R. Anderson ihnp4!oddjob