[ExI] Language Changing Before Our Very Eyes

[Richard Loosemore]

Stathis Papaioannou wrote:

> I find "she" and "her" jarring, calling attention to the sexism of the 
> language where what is really intended is a gender neutral pronoun. 
> Alternating "she" and "her" with "he" and "him" in the same passage is 
> even more jarring, and using "they" and "them" when referring to the 
> singular is just plain wrong.
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Alas, History would have issues with you there:  IIRC, she would tell 
you that about three centuries ago, the normal, correct form of a 
singular, gender-neutral pronoun was "they".  This was then deliberately 
(?) changed by men who decided to go with the male gender for neutral 
references, as a more fitting reflection of their status in society.



Richard Loosemore.