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From: js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: ``They'' vs. ``one'' vs. nothing
Message-ID: <806@mhuxt.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 23-Apr-85 14:31:32 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxt.806
Posted: Tue Apr 23 14:31:32 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 24-Apr-85 03:49:55 EST
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
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> What the English language needs (the
> orthogonal solution) is a third-person singular neuter pronoun which
> can be used anaphorically.
> 
> We actually have such a beast in the word "it".  My version of the
> above sentence would be:
> 
> 	D. When you see Bill's secretary, be sure to give it my memo.
> 
> If we use the word "it" this way, we gain orthogonality.  We lose the
> ability to distinguish people from objects by our choice of pronouns.
> The French don't have this ability.  Has it crippled them in any way?
> Do they ever wish their language provided it?
> --
> 	David Canzi

     The french don't even have a word similar to 'it', I only had three
years in high school, but as far as I know, they have to use words which
mean 'him' and 'her' even when they are referring to objects, not people.
I think a frenchman would be stuck saying 'give him my memo' or 'give her
my memo', just as we are.  
     I don't know if the french ever wish their language provided the
ability to distinguish people from objects with pronouns, but *I* certainly
wished it did when I was trying to learn it.  Sentences like 'Give it
to her.' could translate literally to 'Give him to her.' or 'Give her to
her.', depending on the gender of the referenced object.  Obviously, this
was a great source of confusion to someone who hasn't figured out whether
the direct object comes before or after the indirect object.
-- 
Jeff Sonntag
ihnp4!mhuxt!js2j
    "This statement is true."