Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rtech.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!amdahl!rtech!jeff From: jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Pronouns devoid of gender connotations Message-ID: <498@rtech.UUCP> Date: Thu, 20-Jun-85 05:02:56 EDT Article-I.D.: rtech.498 Posted: Thu Jun 20 05:02:56 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Jun-85 01:38:21 EDT References: <2718@decwrl.UUCP> Organization: Relational Technology, Alameda CA Lines: 67 > > ... on the problem of what word to use to refer to a person of > > unknown gender. ... I don't think any of those solutions is the way to go. > > Instead, I think a new word is in order. ... My nomination? "Zhe." > > (The zh is pronounced like the z in azure) > > > > Example: If a person saw an automobile accident, what should zhe do? > > The English language has had *precisely* the word you are looking > for for hundreds of years now. Its use sounds no more or less stilted > than your proposed new word. It is 'one.' > > "If one saw an automobile accident, what should one do?" "If you should happen to see someone, say hello to one." Sorry, the problem still exists. The suggested answers usually fall into one of the following categories: Use the plural: "If you should happen to see someone, say hello to them." The argument here is that English is a flexible language that is defined by usage, and this is how many people already talk. Also, getting rid of sexist language is more important than adherance to abstract rules of grammar. Invent a new word: "If you should happen to see someone, say hello to zhe." Similar arguments to above. Stick with "Standard English": "If you should happen to see someone, say hello to him." The argument here is that this is gramatically correct, and has served for many years. Name both genders: "If you should happen to see someone, say hello to him or her." This is an easy transformation that is always possible, is easy, and is correct even to a strict grammarian. Stick with standard English, but re-phrase: "Say hello to whomever you should happen to see." The argument here is that one can always structure a sentence both to avoid sexist language and be gramatically correct. Have I missed any categories? I usually favor the last category, and sometimes fall back on the next-to-last. However, this can sometimes take all the punch out of a sentence. I would love for there to be a set of personal pronouns for both sexes, but the chances of this happening are pretty slim; language has a life of its own, and can't always be amended in favor of the logical. -- Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.) aka Swazoo Koolak {amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff {ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff