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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Genderization
Message-ID: <20@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 31-Mar-85 13:22:54 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.20
Posted: Sun Mar 31 13:22:54 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Apr-85 01:36:13 EST
References: <289@ttidcc.UUCP> <4926@mit-vax.UUCP> <235@h-sc1.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 25

> > I too usually try to rewrite sentences to use "one" where appropriate
> > (-: EXCEPT to draw attention when flaming :-); I've always thought it fun
> > like a game.  I was recently startled into thinking about this one again,
> > upon discovering that Harlan Ellison, of whose essays I'm fond, uses
> > "s/he".
> > 
> > ...decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-amber!chabot		chabot%amber.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
> 
>   I beleive it is Poul Anderson who invented a pronoun for creatures (he writes
> science fiction) or people of unknown or dubious gender.  The pronoun, which is
> only used in 3rd person, is "heesh", possessive "heesh's". (Though considering
> the grammatical rule someone posted in net.flame, perhaps that last should be
> something without apostrophe.  Anyone want to come up with an accusative form
> (like him/her) which could be turned into a possesive?
> 		Dave
I can't resist the temptation to improve our language.  Obviously, the
appropriate form of him/her is "herm".  The indefinite gender 3rd person
pronoun is then 1) nominative: heesh, 2) posessive: herms 3) accusative:
herm.  These have the advantage of blending smoothly into the language
(as opposed to co, which never caught on).  Any takers?

"Don't argue with a fool.      Ethan Vishniac
 Borrow his money."            {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
                               Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas