How do you refer to the generic singular third-person?

by seattleniceguy 26 Replies latest jw friends

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  Elsewhere

  The proper way to refer to a singular gender-neutral person is in the masculine tense: "he", "him" or "his"

  Granted, grammar rules are not fixed and I've noticed in the last 20 years that the general population is starting to use the plural gender-neutral person: "they", "their" or "them" as a singular gender-neutral person.

  One of my favorite quotes is: "The dictionary does not define a language, on the contrary, a language defines the dictionary."

  Because of this, it is just a matter of time before grammar books start referring to the singular gender-neutral person as "they", "their" or "them" instead of "he", "him" or "his".
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  AlmostAtheist

  I think my hangup is the same one, but I experience it with babies. You can't say, "Oh, it's beautiful!" because nobody wants you to call their baby an "it". But you can't say "he" or "she" because babies spontaneously change genders when you use one or the other, making sure whichever you choose, you're always wrong.

  So I end up saying, "Your baby is beautiful!" (Or ugly, or whatever)

  Dave
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  Abaddon

  Yeah, 'they' etc. is the most natural sounding, and as pointed out, is not some ghastly nonce-word but something with historical and grammatical valdity. 'One' is also a nice way to depersonify, but can sound stilted.

  AlmostAtheist

  Ah, Shrodinger's Baby; a child that will always be the opposite gender that that one assumes it to be. "What's your name then?" when directed to a baby (when you're 'introduced' to them by their parent) will get the parent to fill-in any blanks caused by Shrodongers's babies, without you ending up looking silly.
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  ezekiel3

  Considering today is National Women's Day, may I put forward this suggestion:

  Always use the feminine pronoun.

  In the English language (woefully lacking a neuter nouns) most feminine pronouns automatically include the male:

  • She
  • Woman
  • Female

  So why not consider "all-inclusive" pronouns. Here's to the ladies!
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  seattleniceguy

  LOL @ Dave....

  Elsewhere,

  One of my favorite quotes is: "The dictionary does not define a language, on the contrary, a language defines the dictionary."

  I've heard same thing expressed as, "The dictionary plays the role of a historian, not a legislator."

  Scully, Leolaia, GentlyFeral re: they,

  So it sounds like this will be the winner going forward. I was going to complain about the verbs not agreeing, like in the sentence,

  The publisher confessed that they read [not "s/he reads"] JWD everyday.

  But I suppose that singular "you" has the same idiosyncrasy and yet has been established as correct English. I guess it seems reasonable that the same thing will happen with "they."

  Interesting.

  SNG
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  AlmostAtheist

  "What's your name then?" when directed to a baby (when you're 'introduced' to them by their parent) will get the parent to fill-in any blanks caused by Shrodongers's babies, without you ending up looking silly.

  Sly! I like it!
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  Justin

  The language has not yet developed to the point where there is a proper way of doing it. So I think the safest way is to be aware of who's looking over your shoulder. If you are going to publish, find out what the publisher's standard is and use it.
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  Leolaia

  From the OED:

  1742 RICHARDSON Pamela III. 127 Little did I think..to make a..Complaint against a Person very dear to you,..but dont let them be so proud..as to make them not care how they affront everybody else.

  This use of the pronoun has been around a while.
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  seattleniceguy

  Nice one, Leolaia!

  SNG
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  talesin

  ROFL @ Leolaia