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Pedants' corner

non-gender specific pronouns

(27 Posts)
Franbern Sun 17-Dec-17 16:45:40

One of my g.children has taught me that there are now non-gender specific pronouns that are slowly coming into usage. V instead of him or her and either Vir or Hir instead of She and He. Think these will be excellent additions to our language.

grannyticktock Fri 22-Dec-17 20:58:12

It's been tried, or at least suggested, before. Heesh and Shim, I think, were the subject and object forms, respectively.
It didn't catch on. This won't either. The use of a random letter is even less likely to appeal, especially in speech: "Who? Vee? Who's that? " It sounds like "thee" with a lisp. "Hir" sounds like "her", so that's no use either.

People enjoy using new verbs, adjectives and nouns, but new pronouns are rare, and always evolve over centuries from a related word. "Ms" (see above) is closely related to Mrs and Miss, and still isn't widely used. No one ever says it.

This will never catch on either. Trust me.

HootyMcOwlface Fri 22-Dec-17 20:00:57

Are you sure your grandchild isn't pulling your leg?!

Chameleon Fri 22-Dec-17 17:34:22

Any nonsense to distract the masses from the really important things going on in the world. O M G. First world problems.

GrannyGear Tue 19-Dec-17 09:08:57

I remember reading a baby care book where "he" and "she" were used alternately in referring to the baby. You might end up with "when she is hungry feed him." (Not an actual quote - this was some time ago.)

maryeliza54 Sun 17-Dec-17 23:34:27

Really?

GrannyGear Sun 17-Dec-17 22:09:39

An infant teacher tells me she was told not to address her pupils as "boys and girls" because this would discriminate against transgender and bisexual children!

NanaMacGeek Sun 17-Dec-17 20:48:30

I have enough trouble when V is used instead of versus! I spend enough time grumbling when hearing which teams are competing without worrying about 'non-gender specific pronouns'. It could all get so confusing. confused

MissAdventure Sun 17-Dec-17 20:47:22

Sounds like something from Ikea.

Jalima1108 Sun 17-Dec-17 20:45:38

It all sounds like Norse to me!

Bathsheba Sun 17-Dec-17 20:44:09

Good plan trisher. Think I'll join you tchsmile

trisher Sun 17-Dec-17 20:36:11

I know Bathsheba and I made a mistake with vir and hir as well, so it has me totally confused. Think I'll just forget about it- I'm getting good at that!

Jalima1108 Sun 17-Dec-17 20:21:26

is it just me who is confused?

and doesn't care?
I will call someone what they wish to be called

Pittcity Sun 17-Dec-17 20:19:26

Mx is a choice of title at our bank. I am happy with Mrs.

NanaandGrampy Sun 17-Dec-17 20:06:56

I’m sorry but total load of rubbish. I’m not subscribing to this in any way shape or form.

Bathsheba Sun 17-Dec-17 19:22:29

MissAdventure grin

Bathsheba Sun 17-Dec-17 19:21:29

So -She is washing her hair but he doesn't care, becomes Hir is washing V hair but hir doesn't care.?

But V is the object pronoun, whereas in your example it is being used as a possessive pronoun. I don't think that can be right - as you say trisher what about his/her/hers.

MissAdventure Sun 17-Dec-17 19:16:02

V looks decidedly female to me.

Bathsheba Sun 17-Dec-17 19:14:54

V isn't a word, it's a letter confused

Welshwife Sun 17-Dec-17 19:02:23

Who decided on those words?

BlueBelle Sun 17-Dec-17 18:38:24

What’s a load of old tosh

MamaCaz Sun 17-Dec-17 17:24:47

Sounds confusing to me. I think I'll stick with 'they', regardless of the ( IMO outdated) argument that it is incorrect.

maryeliza54 Sun 17-Dec-17 17:13:55

And funnily enough, lots of the babies ( about half) actually were?

maryeliza54 Sun 17-Dec-17 17:13:11

Well it’s trying to resolve an issue isn’t it - bit like when Ms came into the language. I remember the baby books I had when DD was born and dear old Penelope Leach scandalised many by assuming the baby was a girl and used the female pronoun throughout.

trisher Sun 17-Dec-17 17:03:56

Struggling with this. V instead of him or her? What about his and hers?
So -She is washing her hair but he doesn't care, becomes
Hir is washing V hair but hir doesn't care.?
Bit confusing isn't it?

maryeliza54 Sun 17-Dec-17 16:52:33

I’m trying to use ‘them’ and ‘they’ but realise it’s not grammatically acceptsble if there’s only one ‘them’ ?