Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 beta 3/9/83; site cwruecmp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!cwruecmp!decot From: decot@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dave Decot) Newsgroups: net.women,net.singles,net.nlang Subject: Re: Obfuscatory? Personal Pronoun Message-ID: <966@cwruecmp.UUCP> Date: Thu, 9-Feb-84 19:31:43 EST Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.966 Posted: Thu Feb 9 19:31:43 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 11-Feb-84 08:14:35 EST References: <155@ubc-vision.UUCP>, <2474@fortune.UUCP> Organization: CWRU Computer Engr. Cleveland, Ohio Lines: 12 The genderless third person singular pronouns in common use ("their", "they", "them") is not always used in an obfuscatory context. I have never used it in such a context, but I often say things like If someone calls me, ask them to leave their name and number. Here I am not trying to "hide" anything, I seriously do not know the gender of the person I am talking about. Any clear way to say the above without using the "incorrect" pronouns seems to require many more words. Dave Decot "Non-Americans are people, too." decvax!cwruecmp!decot (Decot.Case@rand-relay)