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Pedants' corner

non-gender specific pronouns

(26 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.

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’ ?

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 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.

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

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

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 I think I'll stick with 'they', regardless of the ( IMO outdated) argument that it is incorrect.

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

What’s a load of old tosh

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

Who decided on those words?

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

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

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

V looks decidedly female to me.

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.

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

MissAdventure grin

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.

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

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

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

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!

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

Good plan trisher. Think I'll join you tchsmile

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

It all sounds like Norse to me!

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

Sounds like something from Ikea.

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

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!

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

Really?

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.)

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.

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

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