Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mmintl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka
From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Third person pronouns
Message-ID: <499@mmintl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Jul-85 18:06:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: mmintl.499
Posted: Wed Jul 17 18:06:41 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 16:18:27 EDT
Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams)
Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT
Lines: 14


There has been much discussion of third person pronouns lately (he, she,
etc.)  In my mind the biggest problem with he and she comes when referring
to a specific person.  This usage very strongly promotes the idea that
the most important thing about a person is that person's gender.  A new,
non-sex-specific pronoun would solve this problem only if used universally,
i.e., if he and she became (virtually) obsolete.  Does anyone else agree
with this as a desirable goal?  Does anyone see any hope of accomplishing it?

BTW, I have long favored the word "e" to be this pronoun.  It has the
advantage of extreme simplicity.  The main disadvantage is that it sounds
rather like "he", especially in some dialects: "'E can go to 'ell."
As for cases, why use them?  They were gotten rid of for nouns, why
have them for a new pronoun?  A possessive is needed, of course: e's.