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From: harmon_c@h-sc1.UUCP (david harmon)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Genderization
Message-ID: <235@h-sc1.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 30-Mar-85 12:47:25 EST
Article-I.D.: h-sc1.235
Posted: Sat Mar 30 12:47:25 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 2-Apr-85 07:50:46 EST
References: <289@ttidcc.UUCP> <4926@mit-vax.UUCP>
Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center
Lines: 19

> I too usually try to rewrite sentences to use "one" where appropriate
> (-: EXCEPT to draw attention when flaming :-); I've always thought it fun
> like a game.  I was recently startled into thinking about this one again,
> upon discovering that Harlan Ellison, of whose essays I'm fond, uses
> "s/he".
> 
> ...decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-amber!chabot		chabot%amber.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
> USFail:    DEC, MR03-1/K20, 2 Iron Way, Marlborough, MA  01752


  I beleive it is Poul Anderson who invented a pronoun for creatures (he writes
science fiction) or people of unknown or dubious gender.  The pronoun, which is
only used in 3rd person, is "heesh", possessive "heesh's". (Though considering
the grammatical rule someone posted in net.flame, perhaps that last should be
something without apostrophe.  Anyone want to come up with an accusative form
(like him/her) which could be turned into a possesive?
		Dave
		Dave Harmon, harmon@h-sc1 (sorry, I don't think I have a 
usenet address!)