The pronoun game (and other related phenomena)
Some of you may have guessed this from my "singular they" post a little while back; some of you I've actually discussed this with; and to some of you - hey, it's a pleasant surprise! ;c)
Anyway. I've been mulling this idea around for a while, and it's time to refer it to my Usage Panel.
1. In what situations/contexts would it be desirable to avoid using gendered pronouns (he, she, her, him, etc.) or other gendered terms of reference (girlfriend, husband, sister, son, etc.)?
Situations that have occurred/been suggested to me:
-to conceal the gender of the person one is in a relationship with (and thus potentially conceal one's own sexual orientation)
-to avoid displaying ignorance when one doesn't know the gender of the person one is talking about
-to *display* ignorance of the referent's gender (and implicitly to request clarification)
-to deliberately illustrate the fact that you're not being specific about gender (either in solidarity or to tweak your listener)
-to test someone by seeing whether they use a gendered term in their response
Other ideas? Elaborations on these ideas?
2. If you do decide to avoid explicitly-gendered terms, for whatever reason, how do you go about doing so?
Strategies that have occurred/been suggested to me:
-using singular "they" (surprise!)
-using first-person plural ("We went to the park," "We stayed up all night talking" vs. "She took me to the park" or "I was up all night talking to him")
-reformulating sentences by passivizing them or by substituting a definite article for a possessive ("the suggestion was made" vs. "she suggested" or "the plan was" vs. "her plan was" or "she was planning")
-using pet names/euphemisms/other titles ("my sweetheart," "the resident expert," "the person I'm dating," "my castmate")
-repeating previously-mentioned information, e.g.A: Do you know Alex?
B: No, who's Alex?
A: My former student.
B: Why would I know a former student of yours?
A: I thought you knew everyone in the linguistics department.
B: Well, clearly there's at least one linguist I don't know.
-ellipsis, eliminating pronouns altogether, e.g.When referring to someone who recently graduated:
A: Oh, where from?
B: Cal State Fullerton, so probably no one you'd know.
vs.
"Where did she graduate from?"
and
"So she's probably no one you'd know."
Other ideas? Elaborations on these ideas?
3. Does the situation in which you find yourself influence/determine which strategy you use?
Other thoughts, comments, things I've missed?
[Incidentally, if you don't want to be anonymously or pseudonymously quoted but still want to weigh in, do mention that; anonymous or private comments are welcome, too. *smile*]
[soon to be cross-posted, in slightly different form, to linguafags]
Anyway. I've been mulling this idea around for a while, and it's time to refer it to my Usage Panel.
1. In what situations/contexts would it be desirable to avoid using gendered pronouns (he, she, her, him, etc.) or other gendered terms of reference (girlfriend, husband, sister, son, etc.)?
Situations that have occurred/been suggested to me:
-to conceal the gender of the person one is in a relationship with (and thus potentially conceal one's own sexual orientation)
-to avoid displaying ignorance when one doesn't know the gender of the person one is talking about
-to *display* ignorance of the referent's gender (and implicitly to request clarification)
-to deliberately illustrate the fact that you're not being specific about gender (either in solidarity or to tweak your listener)
-to test someone by seeing whether they use a gendered term in their response
Other ideas? Elaborations on these ideas?
2. If you do decide to avoid explicitly-gendered terms, for whatever reason, how do you go about doing so?
Strategies that have occurred/been suggested to me:
-using singular "they" (surprise!)
-using first-person plural ("We went to the park," "We stayed up all night talking" vs. "She took me to the park" or "I was up all night talking to him")
-reformulating sentences by passivizing them or by substituting a definite article for a possessive ("the suggestion was made" vs. "she suggested" or "the plan was" vs. "her plan was" or "she was planning")
-using pet names/euphemisms/other titles ("my sweetheart," "the resident expert," "the person I'm dating," "my castmate")
-repeating previously-mentioned information, e.g.A: Do you know Alex?
B: No, who's Alex?
A: My former student.
B: Why would I know a former student of yours?
A: I thought you knew everyone in the linguistics department.
B: Well, clearly there's at least one linguist I don't know.
-ellipsis, eliminating pronouns altogether, e.g.When referring to someone who recently graduated:
A: Oh, where from?
B: Cal State Fullerton, so probably no one you'd know.
vs.
"Where did she graduate from?"
and
"So she's probably no one you'd know."
Other ideas? Elaborations on these ideas?
3. Does the situation in which you find yourself influence/determine which strategy you use?
Other thoughts, comments, things I've missed?
[Incidentally, if you don't want to be anonymously or pseudonymously quoted but still want to weigh in, do mention that; anonymous or private comments are welcome, too. *smile*]
[soon to be cross-posted, in slightly different form, to linguafags]