The University of Tennessee is inventing new gender neutral language for those who do not want to identify by the traditional gendered “he” and “she.” Instead of “he” and “she,” it’s ze and xe. Of course, these need object and pronoun forms as well. Here’s the interpretive chart:
Insanity.
September 3, 2015 at 10:51 am
I think the gender neutral I have been using for years is better and not nearly as complicated, “s/he”; it is inclusive even if the apparent gender is known; “s/he” is also easily substituted for her / him and hers / his. The possessive is easily suited as inclusive, simply, “s/he’s”.
The plural, they, them, their, always has been gender neutral and is retained because it has always been inclusive as well.
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September 3, 2015 at 11:37 am
English already has a third-person singular genderless pronoun; there is, thus, no reason to invent new ones or misuse a plural.
“ ‘…we have normality, I repeat we have normality.” She turned her microphone off — then turned it back on, with a slight smile and continued: ‘Anything you still can’t cope with is therefore your own problem.’ ” —Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
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