[net.nlang] Genderless Pronouns

jefff@cadovax.UUCP (Jeffery H. Fields) (01/09/85)

     The suggestion of  using  genderless  pronouns  like  "they"  and
"their"  instead  of  "he/she" and "they/their" is lauded by some as a
positive social  action  to  eliminate  sexism.   Some  linguists  and
English  purists  point  to  the  grammatical  error of using a plural
pronoun for a singular antecedent in doing so.
     There is a grammatical solution to  this  dilemma  that  has  not
appeared  on the net.  This solution would involve using "one" and the
possessive "one's" for a singular  antecedent  and  using  "they"  and
"their" for plural antecedents.

-- 

				Jeff Fields
				{ucbvax,ihnp4,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!jefff

Pax Vobiscum.

features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko) (01/11/85)

From: jefff@cadovax.UUCP (Jeffery H. Fields)

>     The suggestion of  using  genderless  pronouns  like  "they"  and
>"their"  instead  of  "he/she" and "they/their" is lauded by some as a
>positive social  action  to  eliminate  sexism.   Some  linguists  and
>English  purists  point  to  the  grammatical  error of using a plural
>pronoun for a singular antecedent in doing so.
>     There is a grammatical solution to  this  dilemma  that  has  not
>appeared  on the net.  This solution would involve using "one" and the
>possessive "one's" for a singular  antecedent  and  using  "they"  and
>"their" for plural antecedents.

While the use of "one" and the possesive "one's" may be grammatical,
there are times when that construct would add unnecessary distance
between the writer and the reader.  The grammatically correct
"one" has connotations of being too proper, too precise.  If one is
hoping to give the impression that one is "just folks", the
ungrammatical use of "they" and "their" for the singular is much
more in keeping with the vernacular.
-- 

aMAZon @ AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL; ihnp4!ihuxf!features

"Love your self's self where it lives."  -- Anne Sexton