Children can be so cruel!
03-05-22, 01:53 PM
#26
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You've missed the point entirely.
Our language lacks a personal pronoun for cases in which we are referencing a generic individual-- generic because we're not talking about a specific person, or because we don't know the person's gender. It's a language problem, not an issue of gender roles.
And of course the lack of a gender-neutral personal pronoun is also a problem regarding non-binary individuals.
Our language lacks a personal pronoun for cases in which we are referencing a generic individual-- generic because we're not talking about a specific person, or because we don't know the person's gender. It's a language problem, not an issue of gender roles.
And of course the lack of a gender-neutral personal pronoun is also a problem regarding non-binary individuals.
Actually, I rethought my earlier post and realized that there's really no problem with the linking verb being "are". " You" is also a plural and singular pronoun, but the linking verb is always "are".
03-05-22, 02:01 PM
#27
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The bigger problem is that most of the derogatory pronouns are not gender neutral. As soon as you refer to a ****, a *********, or an ******* it identifies the subject of scorn as male or female. The English language needs a really vile, repulsive pronoun that can be used to insult someone, while still be respectful of gender identity issues.
Interesting perspective. So the issue is the need to equalize disrespect?
So we're really looking to fill in the blank: They're a _________.
03-05-22, 02:55 PM
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The bigger problem is that most of the derogatory pronouns are not gender neutral. As soon as you refer to a ****, a *********, or an ******* it identifies the subject of scorn as male or female. The English language needs a really vile, repulsive pronoun that can be used to insult someone, while still be respectful of gender identity issues.
03-05-22, 03:51 PM
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The Latin languages just use the masculine form for any mixed/neutral/ambiguous pronoun. I don't think that's any better.
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Last edited by urbanknight; 03-05-22 at 04:03 PM.
03-05-22, 04:06 PM
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https://www.grammarly.com/blog/use-the-singular-they/
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03-05-22, 04:30 PM
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I think you’ve misunderstood me: I don’t dislike it, nor do I like it. I was just commenting on it. However, I learned something from your post, I appreciate that!
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/use-the-singular-they/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/use-the-singular-they/
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03-05-22, 04:37 PM
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Well, it could be worse, it could be German.
Mark Twain from "The Awful German Language":
"See how it looks in print--I translate this from a conversation in one of the best of the German Sunday-school books:
"Gretchen. Wilhelm, where is the turnip?
"Wilhelm. She has gone to the kitchen.
"Gretchen. Where is the accomplished and beautiful English maiden?
Wilhelm. It has gone to the opera.""
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03-05-22, 04:46 PM
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I realized a few months ago that I had been doing it conversationally all my life but not in writing. Then I realized how much easier it is to use the singular "they" in writing instead of "he or she" or the awful unpronounceable "s/he". So now I use singular "they" in writing as well.
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03-05-22, 04:59 PM
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03-05-22, 05:11 PM
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Well, when I'm writing about an indefinite person it's a lot easier than typing "he or she.". As in "if someone is going to respond to a post, they should make sure their reading comprehension is adequate to understand what they're responding to."
The alternative involves typing "he or she" twice and "his or hers" once. I'm shocked that I had to explain that "they" and "their" is shorter.
Last edited by livedarklions; 03-05-22 at 05:17 PM.
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03-05-22, 08:37 PM
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03-05-22, 08:40 PM
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This has already been explained to you a few times, so I'll try to make it as simple as possible: sometimes you don't know whether the person you're referencing is a "he" or a "she." Example: when the nurse comes into the exam room and tells you that the doctor will be in shortly to remove your fingers from your ears, and you don't know the doctor's gender, it is grammatically acceptable to ask "When will they get here to remove my fingers from my ears?" Some people find this easier than saying, "When will he or she get here to remove my fingers from my ears?"
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03-05-22, 10:06 PM
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After reading your post about "they" and "their" now being accepted as singular non-gendered pronouns, I went out for a 50-mile ride and started thinking about the lack of a plural "you" in English...An equivalent to the French "vous," for example. The solutions to that gap are more regional: "y'all' in the South, "youse" in parts of NY and NJ, and -- my favorite -- "yinz" in the Pittsburgh area. I grew up in the upper midwest, where "you guys" is a non-gender way of addressing a group -- but that's cheating, since it's two words.
Now it has been a long time since French class, but I believe "vous" is singular formal as well as plural, so even they didn't get it right.
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03-06-22, 06:21 AM
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It has nothing to do with panic or threat.
It has to do with standing up for science and truth.
I’m sure that you will be very happy when they start taking podiums from her.
Sorry if that always seems to trigger you
Last edited by downhillmaster; 03-06-22 at 09:12 AM.
03-06-22, 06:57 AM
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Let me guess, troll-boy just accused me of something....
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Last edited by livedarklions; 03-06-22 at 07:01 AM.
03-06-22, 09:17 AM
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03-06-22, 12:44 PM
#43
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There's no reason you need to defend your choice of pronouns. If you want to say "they", who's that guy to challenge it? And the gender of the people you identified as " they " literally had absolutely nothing to do with the story anyway.
03-06-22, 01:02 PM
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Skateboarders are infinitely cooler than cyclists. Runners, too. Hoverboard riders, people standing in line at a taco truck, people working in a taco truck, and people driving cars with the drivers-side window rolled down are more hip. We're nowhere near as stylish as curlers. The barber taking a smoke break outside the barber shop has more going on than us.
Arguably we're more cool than people bowling and throwing lawn darts - but they have beer close at hand.
If you wanna be one of the cool kids, pick another sport.
Arguably we're more cool than people bowling and throwing lawn darts - but they have beer close at hand.
If you wanna be one of the cool kids, pick another sport.
03-06-22, 02:12 PM
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03-07-22, 10:56 AM
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03-12-22, 09:41 AM
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I love anecdotes from the path. We need a special thread for them.
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03-12-22, 09:53 AM
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Since this thread has evolved, or devolved as the case may be, into an English writing discussion, let's examine these two sentences.
I can see the eyes of the child get that wide excited look and then he points and yells "look Mom, a skateboarder"!
I can see the eyes of the child get that wide excited look and then it points and yells "look Mom, a skateboarder"!
Is the latter grammatically correct?
Is the latter offensive in any way?
I can see the eyes of the child get that wide excited look and then he points and yells "look Mom, a skateboarder"!
I can see the eyes of the child get that wide excited look and then it points and yells "look Mom, a skateboarder"!
Is the latter grammatically correct?
Is the latter offensive in any way?