A new pronoun? What's a hu to do? Gender-neutral terms spur bruising debate

St. Paul Pioneer Press | 06/23/2007 | WILLIAM WEIR

[gidget7]

“Folks in the transgender community have long charged that “he” or “she” forces them into categories they don’t necessarily identify with. “

Those folks have a mental disorder. We are being preached to about giving the mentally ill preference when we use the English language. That makes US insane as well.

PC should take it’s rightful place, well hidden behind that huge rock, where all lies hide, never to be bowed to or spoken again.

[rhema]

I really wanted to say, "Ma'am, I'm sorry the English language offends you, but I see no reason to change a thousand years of the King's English to placate your sensibilities." Because we were trying to sell our proposal, I instead said "I'm sorry. I'll be more clear. 'He or she'."

If you'd followed the anthropomorphic he with a reference to the King's English, you'd probably still be doing hard time.

[nicmarlo]

Sounds like something from Dr. Seuss. Right: Horton hears a Hu

Sure does....and it would sound ridiculous using it in prose, or any other normal communication.

[savedbygrace]

Hu’s on first?

[rhema]

That community is most notable for the innovative use of things other than pronouns. In any case human beings do not have "genders." Words have genders. Human beings have sexes. Vive la Différence.

Wryly and elegantly stated!

[rhema]

What will all the hu’s down in hu-ville do?

Hu’s on first?

I'm perpetually thankful for the winsome and witty FReeper community.

[razorback-bert]

You’ll let me know when this is settled.

[rhema]

Sure does....and it would sound ridiculous using it in prose, or any other normal communication.

As distinguished from the mutually exclusive category of academic communication.

[rockrr]

"The idea is just to communicate."

The idea is to control people by bastardizing the language. I know because I asked the mailman the last time she came by...

[rhema]

You’ll let me know when this is settled.

I think it's irrevocably settled on this forum. Of course, we may all be targeted for language internment camps if the loony-left academics get their way.

[Silly]

Everyone:

In case I spontaneously break into Spanish this evening, may I use the familiar ‘tu’ form with you?

Silly

[abclily]

Why do we need a gender-neutral personal pronoun? We don’t have any gender-neutral people. Has the world gone completely mad?

[Publius6961]

But to modern ears, using "he" across the board sounds more jarring than "they."

Whoa!
I zinger in the argument. Obviously, if I still prefer "he" I am by definition not modern.

Pity. I may need to start looking into Ambien.

Alas, modern man. what is he to do?

Now, where are those socks I need to sort?

[RichInOC]

[cue Roger Daltrey and the fellas:]

“Hu are you? Hu, hu? Hu, hu?”

[Publius6961]

I’m a woman, but I still use “he” as the universal pronoun.

Well, welcome to our "un-modern" ears outcast group.

*sniff*

[Publius6961]

We also use “it” to refer to nonliving things, entities without gender, asexually reproducing organisms, hermaphrodites, and animals of unknown or irrelevant gender.

There you go; you found the ideal compromise.

I shan't elaborate in deference to the trolls who are in love with the abuse button, and the mods who empower them...

[rhema]

Alas, modern man. what is he to do?

Grammatically emasculate huself for the good of the cause?

[RightWhale]

No, not the world. Only a few individuals of limited power and utility.

[Publius6961]

They do?? OK, mia hermano, whatever you say.

That would be mi hermano or mi hermana, no distinction.

However, voy con ella and voy con el" have obvious and definite genders...

A little learning is a dangerous thing.

[rhema]

[cue Roger Daltrey and the fellas:] “Hu are you? Hu, hu? Hu, hu?”

Thanks for expanding my grammar horizons. I was thinking of hu strictly as a personal pronoun. You've discovered a use for it as an interrogative pronoun.