GRIN/Pronouns

=Pronouns=

Pronouns are shorter grammar word used in English and other languages in place of a name or noun referred to earlier in the discourse in order to save time. In the context of asking for pronouns, we are always talking about third-person pronouns, that is, the pronouns you use for talking about people besides yourself and who you're talking to. It's impossible to know what pronouns someone prefers based on how they look, so you should always ask them what pronouns they would like to be referred to with before you start using pronouns for them. It's the same as how you wouldn't refer to someone with a random name without first asking what their name is. It's good to get into the habit of giving your pronouns when you introduce yourself, regardless of if you think others would guess right based on looking at you, and to ask others for their pronouns if they don't give theirs back. This is also helpful for getting out of the habit of assuming the genders of strangers.

English has four sets of pronouns already and many people also have various new pronouns they are trying to introduce to the language. While pronouns have been associated with genders historically, there is no reason they necessarily have to imply that someone identifies as one gender or another, since they're more accurately described as being of four "noun classes" rather than genders. Below is a glossary of pronouns you may encounter. Pronouns in English have five forms: Subject, Object, Possesive Determiner, Possesive, and Reflexive. Below is a table is pronouns you may encounter at Hampshire. Feel free to add any that aren't listed, and you can email jci12 if you need help with filling out the table.

It/It: This the neutar noun class pronoun in English, commonly used to refer to objects and non-humans. Do not refer to a person with this pronoun unless specifically told to. People may be very offended if you use this pronoun for them.

They/Them: This fourth of the four classic pronouns in English, it is the non-specified noun class pronoun. Plural nouns do not have specified genders/noun classes in English, so this pronoun is often used with plural nouns. It has however always been used to refer to individuals as well, just not as often fpr ones who you've met already. You can find that Shakespeare has even used singular they to refer to people he knew. This is also the pronoun to use for someone whose pronousn you don't yet know. Do note that if a binary trans person does not offer they/them as pronouns they use for themself, referring to them with they/them is a form of misgendering. I know this is confusing because I'm talking about a non-specific person and thus using they/them, but like, if a trans woman wants she/her or a trans man wants he/him, then use those pronouns and not they/them.

New Pronouns: All languages have sort their word categories into "open class" and "closed class." And unfortunately in English, pronouns are closed class. (Unlike in Japanese, where they are open class). What being open-class or closed-class refers to is the difficulty by which a new word in those categories can be coined. It's easy to coin a new noun, verb, adjective, or interjection in a sentence and everyone can pick up that word and start using it with ease. Closed-class words however can only be coined if over half of a language's speaker community is intentionally using it when a new generation of speakers begins learning the language and replace the previous generation to whom the closed class word was new. This has happened before in Sweden when over half of the country was making an intentional point to use the gender-neutral pronoun hen for several decades, until in 2010 it had become completely integrated into the language. What this means it that it's okay to have trouble learning new pronouns but that it's still important that you practice and learn anyway. It may take you a few weeks to a few months to get used to it, but eventually your own personal lexicon will integrate the new pronoun set, and when more people have it integrated into their pronoun set, it'll become easier and easier.

Nounself Pronouns: these are a new, rather controversial phenomenon in pronouns. Mostly only used online, they are new pronouns made by taking one syllable nouns and having them follow a regular conjugation pattern. People often choose cute nouns like "bun" for bunny. This is a very hotly debated topic. Many people are completely offended by the use of nounself pronouns, and they've come to have a very negative association. Their origin actually comes from a transphobic tumblr post that was making fun of new pronouns. Many see their "cute" aspects as accessorizing and trivializing pronouns, especially when used by cis people. However, many of the new pronouns formed with the nounself pattern appeal to some non-binary people, who choose to use them anyway in addition to other more conventional pronouns. Another argument in favor of nounself pronouns is that their regular conjugation pattern makes it easier to form and use new pronouns, and that increased prevalence of nounself pronouns could result in pronouns becoming an open-class category in English over a few decades.

"Just use my name please: Some people would rather opt out of this whole pronoun thing and just want you to use their name for them. This is easier than it sounds, especially with practice.

Demonstrative Pronouns: English also has demonstrative pronouns, which you can use if you really want to avoid using pronouns for someone you don't know. This essentially comes down to saying "This person" and "That person" a lot. "I saw this person the other day" "That person over there..." It can also be useful for when you want to specify number of someone whose pronouns you don't know. "Those people, they..." versus "This person, they..."

"Mixed Pronouns": Some people may tell you they prefer mixed pronouns. This means something different for each person. Generally it means there isn't just one set that they always prefer. It may be that some days they prefer one set more than another set, but other days they prefer a different set. It may be that while they don't have any preference for any one set, they would prefer that people change up which pronouns are used for them from time to time. ("It's not that I don't like being called she, I just wish I wasn't always called she just because of how I look"). Some people expressly prefer that you alternative between two sets within the same day.

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