[net.nlang] substitutes for his/her, their, etc.

rlb@ccice5.UUCP (Richard L. Barnard) (01/16/85)

 like the solution presented by Mary-Clare van Leunen in the introduction
to her 1978 book "A Handbook for Scholars."  In it she says -

	My expository style relies heavily on the exemplary singular, and
	the construction "everybody . . . his" therefore comes up fre-
	quently.  This "his" is generic, not gendered.  "His or her" becomes
	clumsy with repetion and suggests that "his" alone elsewhere is
	masculine, which it isn't.  "Her" alone draws attention to itself
	and detracts from the topic at hand.  "Their" solves the problem
	neatly but substitutes another.  "Ter" is bolder than I am ready for.
	"One's" defeats the purpose of the construction, which is meant to be
	vivid and particular.  "Its" is too harsh a joke.  Rather than play
	hob with the language, we feminists might adopt the position
	of pitying men for being forced to share their pronouns around.

Dick Barnard
Computer Consoles Inc.
Rochester, N.Y.
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