Pronouns: Difference between revisions

'''She.''' Nonbinary people who ask people to use "[[she/her]]" pronouns for them include public speaker [[Olave Basabose]], internet personality [[Left at London]], musician [[JD Samson]], activist [[Kate Bornstein]] (who also goes by "they")<ref>{{cite tweet|author=[[Kate Bornstein]]|title=Thanks for asking, @msmacb. I like they/them. She/her are also okay—makes me smile. xox|date=2016-01-26|user=katebornstein|number=692135982716575745}}</ref> and comedian [[Eddie Izzard]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/dec/21/eddie-izzard-to-use-female-pronouns-she-and-her|title=Eddie Izzard to use the pronouns 'she' and 'her'|date=2020-12-21|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2021-02-10}}</ref>.

'''They.''' Some nonbinary people ask to be called by "singular they" pronouns, including comedian [[Jes Tom]], writer [[Ivan E. Coyote]], actor [[Jiz Lee]], writer [[R.B. Lemberg]], singer-songwriter [[Rae Spoon]], performance poet Kae Tempest<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/06/kate-tempest-announces-they-are-non-binary-changes-name-to-kae|title=Kate Tempest announces they are non-binary, changes name to Kae|date=2020-08-06|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2021-02-10}}</ref> and musician [[Stevie Knipe]].

'''Other pronouns.''' Nonbinary people who go by other pronouns include singer Mx [[Justin Vivian Bond]], who goes by [[Pronouns#V|v]] pronouns. "[[Pronouns#Ze|Ze]], hir" pronouns are the preferred pronouns of revolutionary communist [[Leslie Feinberg]] (who also went by she)<ref>Minnie Bruce Pratt, "Transgender Pioneer and Stone Butch Blues Author Leslie Feinberg Has Died." ''Advocate.'' November 17, 2014. http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/books/2014/11/17/transgender-pioneer-leslie-feinberg-stone-butch-blues-has-died</ref>.

*[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiVvhUyACboSdG56TmczMmtGbFJCOVg1dTdUVFp1enc#gid=1 This survey by Lottelodge (now cassolotl) on Tumblr] ran for two months. The results were published in July 2013, and showed that of over 2,000 respondents '''singular "they"''' was the most popular pronoun at '''63%'''. [http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/54769253277 Commentary.] This rose to 74% in 2015,<ref name="CassolotlNBGQ2015">[http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/111585517125 Nonbinary Stats 2015 (Worldwide) - the results], published 20 Feb 2015</ref> and 77% in 2016.<ref name="CassolotlNBGQ2016">[http://cassolotl.tumblr.com/post/137953257500 NB/GQ Survey 2016 - the worldwide results], published 20 Feb 2015</ref>

At the same time as you work on the above table of pros and cons, test the pronouns that you might like. Try them in several ways: in writing, out loud, and in reference to you. If you have friends who understand, test out having them call you by these pronouns for a little while. You can help your friends with this by wearing a pronoun badge (see below). You can also test how your pronouns look in writing by using web-sites that put them into a text. Such sites include [https://genderev.com/pronouns/ Genderev's Pronoun Try-On], [https://chocolate-pancake.github.io/pronounsandnamestester/ Pronouns And Names Tester], [http://www.pronouns.failedslacker.com/ Failedslacker's Pronoun Dressing Room], [https://pronoun.is/ Pronoun Island] and [http://www.practicewithpronouns.com/ PracticeWithPronouns.com]. You may find that you feel differently about the pronouns when they are in action, and when they are in reference to you.

Unusual pronouns can make trouble for people who speak English as a second language, or who have disabilities that make it harder for them to speak and understand English. Unusual pronouns are difficult to understand for people who lipread.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pronouns |work=Footnotes |date=15 July 2003 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20090414130833/http://footnotes.jinkies.org.uk/pronouns.html |url=http://footnotes.jinkies.org.uk/pronouns.html |archive-date=14 April 2009}}</ref> If you or another person have difficulty using unusual pronouns for these reasons, then it is acceptable and appropriate to ask a person if they have another set of pronouns that you can use in that case.<ref>otherkinlogic, vulpinekin, and roborenard. "Nounself pronouns and how to use them." http://otherkinlogic.tumblr.com/post/92382457520 {{dead link}}</ref>

هما means "they, originally dual, can work as a neutral singular third person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns">{{Cite web|url=https://whatdoesenbymean.tumblr.com/post/98205665479/multilingual-pronouns-list|title=multilingual pronouns list|website=Ask a nonbinary person|access-date=2021-01-10}}</ref>

Gender-neutral pronouns in Danish language (Dansk) include:

'''hen, hen, hens'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> (neopronoun - the variants hæn and høn are equally proposed.)<ref>https://sproget.dk/raad-og-regler/artikler-mv/svarbase/SV00016738</ref> <ref>https://nordjyske.dk/nyheder/han-hun-eller-hoen/13013a26-ec3f-4c10-9833-d80a0fd6ea7e</ref>

'''hen, hen, hun''' <ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/non-binair-voornaamwoord-uitslag/|title=Zo maak je na toiletten ook taal genderneutraal|date=2016-06-10|website=Transgender Netwerk Nederland|language=nl|access-date=2020-10-23}}</ref>

‘’’Die, hen, hun’’’is also often used with die being a translation of who or another way of using a Dutch version of they <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />

Normally, Esperanto doesn't have any neutral pronouns for people, only female or male. Some proposed grammatical reforms suggest adding a neutral pronoun. The problem with reforms is that the mean that, since you're not speaking dictionary Esperanto, many speakers won't understand you. Esperanto is supposed to be so uniform that everyone speaks it the same and can understand it. For more information about this issue, see Wikipedia's article [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_reform_in_Esperanto gender reform in Esperanto].

'''gi'''. "A popular proposal because it is iconic: in writing, it resembles ''ĝi'', which it also resembles in meaning, and it is similar to the occasionally epicene prefix ''ge-''. This makes it readily recognizable. Also along these lines is the use of the epicene prefix itself, ''geli''."<ref name="esperanto wikipedia">[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_reform_in_Esperanto Wikipedia page on gender reform in Esperanto]</ref>

'''hi'''. Proposed "so that the gendered pronouns ''hi'' and ''ŝi'' both derive from English."<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>

'''li'''. A common proposed neutral pronoun that is "related to the epicene plural ''ili'' 'they'".<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>

'''ri'''. "Riist Esperanto," or "Riisim," is a grammatical reform to Esperanto that makes the language more gender-neutral in several ways. One of these changes is to replace the gendered pronouns entirely with the neutral pronoun ''ri''. This was popular for some time for the Esperanto community on the Internet in the 1990s.<ref name="esperanto wikipedia"></ref>

In French, talking about one's self or another person in a gender-neutral way requires using created pronouns since the language only have two genders (feminine and masculine). These pronouns are not used officially, but are more and more used in gender-inclusive texts and spaces, along with gender-inclusive grammar rules for adjectives.

'''ile'''. A mix of the French words "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she"). Some nonbinary people in France go by this pronoun. In 2015, an [[intersex]] adult in Tours won the right to change their birth certificate to say "gender neutral". The news mentioned that this person went by "ile" pronouns.<ref name="McCormick">{{Cite web |title=France legally recognises person as ‘gender neutral’ for the first time |author=McCormick, Joseph |work=PinkNews |date=15 October 2015 |access-date=21 February 2021 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/10/15/france-legally-recognises-person-as-gender-neutral-for-the-first-time/}}</ref>

'''ille, illes''' A mix between "il" ("he") and "elle" ("she") that can be used in a written text but that can not be easily said out loud.<ref name="atelier queer 1">Alice Coutant, Luca Greco, Noémie Marignier. [http://www.slideshare.net/noemiemarignier/queer-week "Le chantier linguistique : éléments pour une grammaire non-binaire".] Atelier Queer Week 6 mars 2015.</ref>

'''er + feminine noun endings.'''<ref name=":0">Pronomen. ''Nichtbinär-Wiki.'' Accessed August 15, 2017. [https://nibi.space/pronomen#Vorname]</ref>

'''es'''. This means "it," and isn't usually used for people. Only use this pronoun for people who ask to be called by it. Some nonbinary people do reclaim it for themselves.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /><ref name="ttsg-german">{{cite web|title=Are there any gender neutral pronouns in German too?|work=Transgender teen survival guide (blog)|url=http://transgenderteensurvivalguide.tumblr.com/post/109131545635/are-there-any-gender-neutral-pronouns-in-german|date=25 January 2015}}</ref>

'''A.'''<ref name="hirn_DieS">{{Cite web |title=Die Sache mit den Pronomen. |trans-title= |author= |work=Ashducation |date=3 January 2016 |access-date=21 February 2021 |url= https://hirngefickt.wordpress.com/2016/01/03/die-sache-mit-den-pronomen-2/ |language=de}}</ref> First mention by a person whose name starts with A.

'''dey.'''<ref>Anonymous ask on ''Nonbinary Trans Germany: Trans in Deutschland''. August 10, 2016. http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/post/148742824641/ein-befreundeter-mensch-von-mir-hat-sich-mal</ref> Based on they, changed to be more easily pronounceable in German.

'''dier/dies/diem/dien'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.annaheger.de/pronomen33/|title=Version 3.3 : xier Pronomen ohne Geschlecht|author=Illi Anna Heger|language=de-DE|access-date=2021-08-08}}</ref> Relative pronoun set based on ''dier'' (pronounced [di:ɐ̯]), an alternative to ''die'' and ''der''.

'''er_sie'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" />''', ersie, er:sie, er*sie.'''<ref name=":0" /> From ''er'' (he) and ''sie'' (she).

'''hän/sires/sim/sin'''.<ref name="high_Glos">{{Cite web |title=Glossar |trans-title= |author= |work=High on Clichés |date=11 December 2011 |access-date=21 February 2021 |url= https://highoncliches.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/glossar/ |language=de}}</ref> used as a replacement for ''er/sie''

'''k.'''<ref>Comment by Pennyroyal Tea on a post by Ash B. 3 January 2016 https://www.facebook.com/hirngefickt/posts/1689898591228038?comment_id=1689923207892243&comment_tracking={%22tn%22%3A%22R4%22}</ref> inplace of she/he said you say k said ''"k hat gesagt"''

'''per'''.<ref>"Namensgebung? Pronomen? Nicht-binärer Name!" ''nibiTrans*ich'' (blog). http://nibitransich.blogspot.de/2015/06/namensgebung-non-binarer-name.html</ref> used the same as ''er/sie''

'''sier/sieser/siem/sien''' with possessive pronouns based on root "sies".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.annaheger.de/pronomen21/|title=Version 2.1 : sier Pronomen ohne Geschlecht|author=Illi Anna Heger|language=de-DE|access-date=2021-06-09}}</ref>  

'''sif/sis/sim/sin''' with possessive pronouns based on root "sir".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.annaheger.de/pronomen10/|title=Version 1.0 : sif Pronomen ohne Geschlecht|author=Illi Anna Heger|language=de-DE|access-date=2021-03-17}}</ref>

'''they.'''<ref>Geschlechtsneutrale Sprache | Gender-neutral language. ''Nonbinary Trans Germany: Trans in Deutschland.'' http://nonbinarytransgermany.tumblr.com/language</ref> Used just like in English.

'''x'''.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> Has been criticised for being racist when used by white people.<ref>"Warum das x-Pronomen mir Bauchschmerzen bereitet" ''Tea-Riffic'' (blog). [http://teariffic.de/2015/02/18/warum-das-x-pronomen-mir-bauchschmerzen-bereitet/]</ref>

'''xier/xieser/xiem/xien'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.annaheger.de/pronomen33/|title=Version 3.3 : xier Pronomen ohne Geschlecht|author=Illi Anna Heger|language=de-DE|access-date=2021-08-08}}</ref> Personal pronoun set based on ''xier'' (pronounced [ksi:ɐ̯]), an alternative to ''er'' and ''sie''. And '''xies''' can be used as the base to matching possessive pronouns, that are declensed with endings you would use for ''sein'' and ''ihr'',  '''xies/xiese/xieses/xiesem/xiesen'''

The choice of this pronoun may be due to the somewhat neutral nature of the third-person plural masculine, which is used with mixed-gender groups. Some may choose the third-person plural because it is closest to the English ''they''.<ref>Bryant, Andrea R. (2021). ''Beyond they/them: a typology of nonbinary pronoun and agreement innovation'' (Bachelor's thesis). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1epd7v5NMvAeRcL3_RakfuQZgE84C3eAN/view?usp=sharing</ref>

Some Hebrew speakers who are nonbinary may choose to use the masculine and feminine pronouns interchangeably.<ref name="Lipson">{{Cite web |title=How Language Classes Are Moving Past the Gender Binary |last=Lipson |first=By Molly |work=New York Times |date=1 September 2021 |access-date=1 September 2021 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/crosswords/gender-language-nonbinary.html |quote=Mx. Janner-Klausner, who teaches in Jerusalem, asks their students to refer to them using male and female pronouns interchangeably.}}</ref>

For the singular, the third-person pronoun "hán" has been proposed, (genitive "háns", dative "háni", accusative "hán").<ref>Hann, hún og það... eða hvað? https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/24447/1/Selma%20Sverris.pdf</ref>

Italian is a very binary language, with two grammatical genders, masculine and feminine. In writing, signs like * or @ or the letter x are sometimes used where the feminine has "a" and the masculine has "o", although no specific pronunciation is linked to them. Some people use "u" when speaking in these cases, others the dialectal ending "ə" (as there is no standard spelling linked to this sound, "@" might sometimes be used to represent this pronunciation). This applies to a lot of words, such as nouns, adjectives and to a lesser degree articles. There seems to be no clear solution for plural forms.<ref>http://pasionaria.it/genere-non-binario-tutte-le-risposte-alle-tue-domande/</ref> <ref>https://nonbinary.noblogs.org/sample-page/</ref>  

'''elx, delx, nelx'''. This uses an x to show ambiguity of the letter.<ref name=":1">[https://orientando.org/listas/tipos-de-linguagem/]''Orientando, um espaço de aprendizagem.'' Tipos de linguagem.</ref>

'''''íli, díli, níli.''''' This shows ambiguity by the letter ''i.'' Some variations can be found: '''''ílu, dílu, nílu; ílo, dílo, nílo; ile, dile, nile; ilo, dilo, nilo.'''''<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=UM GUIA PARA PROMOVER A LINGUAGEM INCLUSIVA EM PORTUGUÊS {{!}} diversitybbox|url=https://diversitybbox.com/pt/um-guia-para-promover-a-linguagem-inclusiva-em-portugues/|access-date=2020-11-28|language=pt-BR}}</ref>

'''éle, déle, néle'''. This pronoun follows the Spanish ''elle'' pattern, drawing a line between é from ''éla'' and -e from ''ele''.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Linguagem neutra de gêneros gramaticais|url=https://pt.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linguagem_neutra_de_g%C3%AAneros_gramaticais&oldid=59774204|journal=Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre|date=2020-11-11|language=pt}}</ref>

'''elae, delae, nelae.''' This combines ''ela'' with ''ele''.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Sistema elu|url=https://pt.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sistema_elu&oldid=59363650|journal=Wikipédia, a enciclopédia livre|date=2020-09-16|language=pt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Em defesa de uma multiplicidade de pronomes|url=https://medium.com/@ttextos/em-defesa-de-uma-multiplicidade-de-pronomes-ff226184e99a|website=Medium|date=2018-02-19|access-date=2020-11-28|language=en|last=T}}</ref>

'''êla, dêla, nêla.''' This combines ''ele'' (êle) with ''ela''.<ref>Carvalho, Danniel. (2021). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350671835_Sobre_genero_e_a_invencao_de_um_pronome_nao-binario Sobre gênero e a invenção de um pronome não-binário]. ''researchgate.net''</ref>

The Spanish language (español) doesn't normally have neutral pronouns. However, people have created some new, neutral pronouns, which are used in some groups that are sensitive about LGBT, feminist, and social justice issues. Most of these neutral pronouns work by taking the feminine pronoun, ''ella'', and the standard abstract neuter pronoun ''ello'' (which can't be used for people), and substituting a different letter or symbol for the masculine "o" or feminine "a" ending. This approach of substituting a letter is shared by creating other parts of gender neutral language in Spanish, such as neutral-gender endings for adjectives. See [[Gender neutral language#Spanish|gender neutral language - Spanish]] for information about that. These new, neutral pronouns include:

'''ele'''. A neutral pronoun that is a mix of the masculine pronoun ''él'' ("he") and a proposed gender-neutral ending letter, -e. This is less common. The plural would be '''elles'''.<ref name="tawnyflower spanish">Phoenix Tawnyflower. "Nonbinary Spanish." May 24, 2014. ''Reflections of a Queer Artist'' (personal blog). http://phoenixtawnyflower.blogspot.com/2014/05/nonbinary-spanish.html</ref>

'''elle'''. A neutral pronoun that can be easily said out loud. This is non-standard, but one of the most common of these.<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> It's used by nonbinary people in Chile.<ref>http://linguaphiles.livejournal.com/5990300.html</ref>

'''je, jin, jins'''.<ref>http://www.erfgoed-fundaasje.nl/de-stichtingen-frysk-en-frij-en-erfgoed-fundaasje-opereare-genderneutraal/</ref> These pronouns do exist as indefinite pronouns, though their use for referring to a specific person isn't very common.

*[http://pronoun.is/ Pronoun Island]. Anyone can put in any pronouns they can imagine, and it makes a page that shows how to use them in a sentence, which a person can link to in order to show these particular usage examples to other people.