Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fortune.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!fortune!grw From: grw@fortune.UUCP (Glenn Wichman) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Replacement for he/she Message-ID: <2536@fortune.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Feb-84 16:42:55 EST Article-I.D.: fortune.2536 Posted: Tue Feb 14 16:42:55 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Feb-84 03:30:14 EST References: <367@rayssd.UUCP>, <28500001@uo-vax1.UUCP>, <1011@proper.UUCP> Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA Lines: 33 Let's face it; emotional issues aside, it would be very useful to have a personal pronoun which did not involve a specific gender. The problem with using 'he' (regardless of whether it is sexist) is that it is ambiguous: it is the same as the masculine personal pronoun. I use 'they' 'them' and 'their' as genderless personal pronouns. these are also ambiguous because they are the same as the plural pronouns. However, it is easier to make oneself clear using 'they' than using 'he'. It would be nice to come up with three brand new never-before-used pronouns (or we could borrow some from Old Norse), but unfortunately launching a new word or set of words is a very difficult and complex business. 'They' has the advantage of being currently understood by most people (even those that don't approve of this usage). On the other hand, this seems as good a place as any to start up some new words. Let's make up three new words, for the nominative, objective and possesive forms of the NEW genderless pronoun! Then we'll all agree to use them. The words should: 1) Be short (what's a pronoun for, eh?) 2) Be euphonic 3) Sound like English 4) Fit in well with eachother & with their sibling pronouns Maybe there should be some other rules as well, but these seem to fit the bill. I will see if I can come up with anything. If you have any suggestions for pronouns, mail them to me, I'll summerize and we can vote. If you think this is a stupid idea, you may be right. Still, we have to start somewhere. "You remember me, I'm the one with no cute signoff message" -Glenn