Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A new pronoun? What's a hu to do? Gender-neutral terms spur bruising debate
St. Paul Pioneer Press | 06/23/2007 | WILLIAM WEIR

Posted on 06/24/2007 2:29:33 PM PDT by rhema

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last
To: rhema

“If anyone asks, tell them what they need to know.”

What is wrong with, “If anyone asks, answer the question?”


21 posted on 06/24/2007 3:00:37 PM PDT by GOPologist (By the time you decide to look for greener pastures, you're too old to climb the fence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema
This is what happens when people reject G-d's laws. They start out claiming to be libertarian anarchists who are against G-d because He has "too many rules," but in the end it always turns out that they don't think He has enough rules.

For every sexual sin the atheists/liberals want to decriminalize, there is something they want to outlaw in the name of "reason" and "justice."

22 posted on 06/24/2007 3:00:50 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator ("Mah tovu 'ohaleykha, Ya`aqov, mishkenoteykha, Yisra'el!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Remole
But in Hebrew, “hu” is “he” and “he” is “she” and, oh fuggetaboutit.

Our imperious language masters would probably dictate that Hebrew change its pronouns.

23 posted on 06/24/2007 3:00:57 PM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: clintonh8r
“He” as representative of both genders has been perfectly acceptable for a long time. I see no reason to change.

In every place except leftist academia and publishing circles, unfortunately.

24 posted on 06/24/2007 3:02:36 PM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: MIchaelTArchangel

“..some Palasaides Princesses ..”

As the proud mom of a true Jersey Girl, I gotta say, Palisades Princesses is pretty good!


25 posted on 06/24/2007 3:02:56 PM PDT by jocon307 (The Silent Majority - silent no longer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: rhema

Most people are still unclear about the rules for it’s and its, many on this forum sad to say.

As for the he/she connundrum -—lots of ways to avoid that problem.


26 posted on 06/24/2007 3:04:53 PM PDT by eleni121 (+ En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema

“DeLuna says “hu” has been well-received within the transgender community”

And when everyone knows this it should put an end to this nonsense. For most purposes language is better the more precise it is. This person wants sacrifice precision on the altar of political correctness. If you want change, don’t worry. Pretty soon we’ll be using El, La, and Usted.


27 posted on 06/24/2007 3:05:46 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema; P-Marlowe; xzins
I once worked for a legislative reform commission. When we were presenting our proposals, I used the term "he" to refer to an indefinite person. The Chairwoman of the Legislature jumped down my throat for using that "sexist language."

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'."

Man, that gagged me.

28 posted on 06/24/2007 3:06:20 PM PDT by jude24
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema

Apparently these jerks never took Latin, French, or German classes either.


29 posted on 06/24/2007 3:07:16 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema
Maybe hu will set the captives free.

You mean like how Ebonics set blacks free and Spanglish set Hispanics free?

30 posted on 06/24/2007 3:07:54 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * wahoo wa! ... U.Va. Engineering '09)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: rhema

The English language already has a gender-neutral single object and subject pronoun (it) and a corresponding possessive pronoun (its). We typically use this pronoun for persons who disclaim identity with male and female genders, but declare theirs as “other/please specify.” We also use “it” to refer to nonliving things, entities without gender, asexually reproducing organisms, hermaphrodites, and animals of unknown or irrelevant gender.


31 posted on 06/24/2007 3:08:51 PM PDT by dufekin (Name the leader of our enemy: Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, terrorist dictator)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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

BS. Only to a certain kind of hyper-sensitive modern ears.

I've seen a lot of textbooks that use "she" instead. I fail to see how that's an improvement.

32 posted on 06/24/2007 3:09:11 PM PDT by irv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema

Sounds like something from Dr. Seuss.


33 posted on 06/24/2007 3:09:47 PM PDT by Let's Roll (As usual, following a shooting spree, libs want to take guns away from those who DIDN'T do it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Zionist Conspirator
For every sexual sin the atheists/liberals want to decriminalize, there is something they want to outlaw in the name of "reason" and "justice."

And, when they're imposing rules on our language, they do so [quoting Jennings' column cited earlier] "Using superficial determinants, they rule with a judgmentalism they condemn and a demanding conformity defiant of their individualism dogma. They live by facile rules that too easily dismiss anything or anyone who provokes thought. Ironic that the age of diversity should produce monolithic literature."

34 posted on 06/24/2007 3:11:18 PM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Czar; Borax Queen; CottonBall; janetgreen
Her creation, "hu," would replace he, she, him, her and his.....DeLuna says "hu" has been well-received within the transgender community.

Speaking of ridiculous....ping.

35 posted on 06/24/2007 3:11:42 PM PDT by nicmarlo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rhema

He is hu, she is hu, even an it is a hu?

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


36 posted on 06/24/2007 3:12:08 PM PDT by Zack Attack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: hsalaw
That's right. The "humankind" expression is reely two stoopid to.

Where does "man" in "humankind" fit in?

Shouldn't it be "hu-person-kind"? Then you have "son" in "per-son." Where do the daughters fit in?

Maybe we should all communicate using stick figures. And change the signs on restrooms. You know the stick figures that connote a female with the shape of a dress instead of a man wearing pants.

Hell, all men should wear drsses and pants. Oh wait, the Scots do that.

Nevermind.

37 posted on 06/24/2007 3:12:50 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: jocon307
The Romance languages have gender neutral pronouns, ...

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

;^)

38 posted on 06/24/2007 3:15:27 PM PDT by SAJ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Let's Roll
Sounds like something from Dr. Seuss.

Right: Horton hears a Hu

39 posted on 06/24/2007 3:16:14 PM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: rhema
DeLuna says "hu" has been well-received within the transgender community.

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.

Such acrobatic stupidity (one is reminded of a diver doing a one and a half gainer into a dry pool) as DeLuna's neologism will not "catch on" unless it is mandated, and the real language Nazis know that perfectly well. It will be coming soon to academia, bet on it. There tortured syntax is perfectly justified as long as it is the interest of (shudder) "gender and social justice."

But the control of language is not the control of thought despite some decades of earnest academic asseveration to the contrary. It isn't even really the control of language. That has, to my knowledge, happened only in one extraordinary case, and Latin has been dead for a very long time now.

40 posted on 06/24/2007 3:16:54 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-87 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson