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Pronouns: Difference between revisions
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====Test them==== | ====Test them==== | ||
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. | 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://web.archive.org/web/20190407041806/http://www.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. | ||
===Announcing your change of pronouns=== | ===Announcing your change of pronouns=== | ||
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*Conclusion: Request that people use these pronouns for you. | *Conclusion: Request that people use these pronouns for you. | ||
Based on the above, here is a [[template letters|sample letter]] of a fictional person announcing their pronoun change. You can use it as a template for writing your own. | Based on the above, here is a [[template letters|sample letter]] of a fictional person announcing their pronoun change. You can use it as a template for writing your own. | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Dear Stuart, | |||
As you know, I have a nonbinary gender identity, meaning that I don't think of myself as a woman or a man. I'm transitioning to a gender expression that feels more like the real me. Since being called "he" or "she" doesn't feel right to me, I have decided to change my pronouns to singular they (they, them, their, theirs, themself). For an example of these pronouns in a couple sentences: "They are Morgan, that's them. They will read their book by themself". I like these singular gender-neutral pronouns the best because they were used by Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and other great writers. They have been a part of English for a long time. From now on, please call me by "they" pronouns, instead of "he" or "she". | |||
Thank you,<br/> | |||
Mx Morgan Doe | |||
</blockquote> | |||
You can also use the above sample letter as a template for writing an e-mail, just by leaving out the signature. Use it as a template for a blog post by leaving out the salutation. | You can also use the above sample letter as a template for writing an e-mail, just by leaving out the signature. Use it as a template for a blog post by leaving out the salutation. | ||
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'''tā/ta1''' is the standard pronoun for people, which when pronounced aloud is gender-neutral. Before the language was influenced by Europeans, "他" was the proper way of rendering "tā" (regardless of gender); with the radical "亻" (a variant of "人") meaning "person" and "也" meaning "other" (i.e. "another person, neither me nor you"). Under European influence, the character "她" was invented, to mean "she" ("女"=female + "也"=other). Therefore, "他" more and more acquired the gender-specific meaning "he", with the consequence that nowadays neither "他" nor "她" are perceived as gender-neutral. Another written form of tā is "它" meaning "it," but this can be derogatory, so only use it for a person with their permission. Similarly, tā 牠 is a pronoun "used for non-human animals", <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> and tā 祂 is usually used for gods. | '''tā/ta1''' is the standard pronoun for people, which when pronounced aloud is gender-neutral. Before the language was influenced by Europeans, "他" was the proper way of rendering "tā" (regardless of gender); with the radical "亻" (a variant of "人") meaning "person" and "也" meaning "other" (i.e. "another person, neither me nor you"). Under European influence, the character "她" was invented, to mean "she" ("女"=female + "也"=other). Therefore, "他" more and more acquired the gender-specific meaning "he", with the consequence that nowadays neither "他" nor "她" are perceived as gender-neutral. Another written form of tā is "它" meaning "it," but this can be derogatory, so only use it for a person with their permission. Similarly, tā 牠 is a pronoun "used for non-human animals", <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> and tā 祂 is usually used for gods. | ||
As the logical gender-neutral character is "他" ("亻" meaning "person"), one solution would be to use a character composed of "男"("male") and "也" to mean "he", which would make it evident that "他" used in the same text can only be meant in a gender-neutral way. However, as Unicode | As the logical gender-neutral character is "他" ("亻" meaning "person"), one solution would be to use a character composed of "男"("male") and "也" to mean "he", which would make it evident that "他" used in the same text can only be meant in a gender-neutral way. However, as Unicode has only provided "⿰男也" as a single character in 2025 (, at code point U+32C3C), this is currently only possible with the few fonts that have implemented it (such as [https://github.com/lxgw/LxgwWenKai-Lite/releases LxgwWenKai-Lite]) and in handwriting. | ||
Some people simply write "TA" with Latin letters ("TA是我的朋友。"). The same can be done in Bopomofo ("ㄊㄚ是我的朋友。"). | Some people simply write "TA" with Latin letters ("TA是我的朋友。"). The same can be done in Bopomofo ("ㄊㄚ是我的朋友。"). | ||
Others write "X也" for non-binary people, and Unicode has in 2025 allocated the compound character "" at code point U+323BF. Based on the use in Unicode documents, the compound seems to be "⿰㐅也", but other sources give "⿰乂也". Here again, only a few fonts, such as [https://github.com/lxgw/LxgwWenKai-Lite/releases LxgwWenKai-Lite], have already implemented this. | |||
Gender-neutral pronouns in Cantonese (廣東話) include: | Gender-neutral pronouns in Cantonese (廣東話) include: | ||
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'''onikání''', "which was used in the past as gender-neutral pronoun when refering to someone of lesser status. it’s oni/je/jejich/se they/them/their/themself and the use is: Oni jsou moc milým člověkem. - They are a very nice person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | '''onikání''', "which was used in the past as gender-neutral pronoun when refering to someone of lesser status. it’s oni/je/jejich/se they/them/their/themself and the use is: Oni jsou moc milým člověkem. - They are a very nice person."<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | ||
==Danish neutral pronouns== | ==Danish neutral pronouns== | ||
Gender-neutral pronouns in Danish language ( | Gender-neutral pronouns in Danish language (dansk) include: | ||
'''de, dem, deres'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | '''de, dem, deres'''<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | ||
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'''die, hen, hun''' <ref name=":2" /> | '''die, hen, hun''' <ref name=":2" /> | ||
'''die, die, diens''' <ref>“[https://web.archive.org/web/20231201021908/https://tekstbureaulindaschlief.nl/hoe-gebruik-je-non-binaire-voornaamwoorden/ Hoe gebruik je de non-binaire voornaamwoorden hen/hun en die/diens]” Tekst Bureau Linda Schlief. 2023-02-22. Archived from the [https://tekstbureaulindaschlief.nl/hoe-gebruik-je-non-binaire-voornaamwoorden/ original] on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-20</ref> | |||
'''ze, hun, ze''' "note: literal translation of they, but ze is often used as 'she'"<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | '''ze, hun, ze''' "note: literal translation of they, but ze is often used as 'she'"<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | ||
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'''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/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230331104851/http://teariffic.de/2015/02/18/warum-das-x-pronomen-mir-bauchschmerzen-bereitet/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> | '''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/] [https://web.archive.org/web/20230331104851/http://teariffic.de/2015/02/18/warum-das-x-pronomen-mir-bauchschmerzen-bereitet/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602091309/https://www.annaheger.de/pronomen33/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602091309/https://www.annaheger.de/pronomen33/|archive-date=17 July 2023}}</ref> Pronoun set based on ''xier'' (pronounced [ksi:ɐ̯]), an alternative to ''er'' and ''sie'' developed by Illi Anna Heger. And '''xies''' can be used as the base to matching possessive pronouns, that are declensed with endings you would use for ''sein'' and ''ihr'', '''xiese/xieses/xiesem/xiesen/xieser.''' <ref>https://www.annaheger.de/pronouns/</ref> | ||
'''z, zet.'''<ref>@pandanouk. September 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160906155158/https://twitter.com/pandanouk/status/772895165551874049</ref> replacement for er/sie | '''z, zet.'''<ref>@pandanouk. September 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160906155158/https://twitter.com/pandanouk/status/772895165551874049</ref> replacement for er/sie | ||
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'''On(a), on_a (он[а], он_а) -''' Combining ''on'' and ''ona'' using parenthesis or a 'gender gap' (underscore) can be done as well. This is considered an option mostly for writing, but some people use it orally as well by putting a pause between the masculine and the feminine.<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11185-021-09241-6 Prospects and challenges of gender neutralization in Russian] ''Russian Linguistics'' 45. 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2023.</ref> | '''On(a), on_a (он[а], он_а) -''' Combining ''on'' and ''ona'' using parenthesis or a 'gender gap' (underscore) can be done as well. This is considered an option mostly for writing, but some people use it orally as well by putting a pause between the masculine and the feminine.<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11185-021-09241-6 Prospects and challenges of gender neutralization in Russian] ''Russian Linguistics'' 45. 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2023.</ref> | ||
'''Ony (они) -''' The traditional third person plural pronoun. Some people use this to refer to a singular nonbinary person, like ''they'' in English, although this can get difficult when referring to oneself due to the highly gendered nature of Russian verbs and adjectives. | |||
'''Oh (ох/ех) -''' A neopronoun that does not follow the same format as ''on''/''ona''/''ono''. | |||
'''Onzh (онж/егж) -''' Another neopronoun that follows the same format as ''on'' or ''ono'' but with the letter zhe (ж). | |||
'''One (оне/нех) -''' A neopronoun. It uses the ending '''-ле''' in verb conjugation.<ref>'''[https://ru.pronouns.page/%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B5 <nowiki>оне/нех/[-ле] Неоместоимения</nowiki>]''' Pronouns-page. Accessed 22 July 2023.</ref> | |||
==Slovak neutral pronouns== | ==Slovak neutral pronouns== | ||
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'''ello'''. A neutral pronoun that can be easily said out loud. It's uncommonly used<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> and it's considered rude, since it's the pronoun used for things (similar to English 'it'). | '''ello'''. A neutral pronoun that can be easily said out loud. It's uncommonly used<ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> and it's considered rude, since it's the pronoun used for things (similar to English 'it'). | ||
'''ellx'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This non-standard, but one of the more common of these | '''ellx'''. A neutral pronoun that can't be said out loud. This non-standard, but one of the more common of these. <ref name="rabbitglitter ML pronouns" /> | ||
'''ol'''. A neutral pronoun. Non-standard and uncommon. The plural would be '''olles'''. This would go with the non-standard definite article that is also ''ol''.<ref name="tawnyflower spanish"></ref> | '''ol'''. A neutral pronoun. Non-standard and uncommon. The plural would be '''olles'''. This would go with the non-standard definite article that is also ''ol''.<ref name="tawnyflower spanish"></ref> | ||
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Gender-neutral pronouns in Yiddish language (ייִדיש) include: | Gender-neutral pronouns in Yiddish language (ייִדיש) include: | ||
'''zey, zeyer, zeyere (זיי, זייער, זייערע) -''' The third person plural pronoun, which many nonbinary Yiddishists use as singular. It is conjugated as plural while the name of the person followed by a verb stays singular | '''zey, zeyer, zeyere (זיי, זייער, זייערע) -''' The third person plural pronoun, which many nonbinary Yiddishists use as singular. It is conjugated as plural while the name of the person followed by a verb stays singular, likely due to the influence of English on the language. | ||
=== '''Neopronouns''' === | === '''Neopronouns''' === | ||
'''fey, fer, feyer (פֿיי, פֿער, פֿייער) -''' Also spelled | '''fey, fer, feyer (פֿיי, פֿער, פֿייער) -''' Also spelled '''fey, feyer, feyere (פֿיי, פֿֿייער, פֿייערע)'''. Basically equivalent to English fae/faer/faers.<ref>https://ingeveb.org/pedagogy/queer-family-tree Bach, Alona, Rebecca Araten, Ethan Nosanow Levin, and Carolyn Beard. “''Undzer Mishpokhe'': A Queer Yiddish Curriculum Supplement.” In geveb (April 2022): Accessed Jul 21, 2023.</ref> Some people do not use them because they have the same first three letters as the f-slur in Yiddish. | ||
'''ez, zim, zir (עז, זים, זיר) -''' Neopronouns with no English equivalent. They are based off of all three singular pronouns: ''er (ער)'', ''zi (זי)'', and ''es (עס)''. | '''ez, zim, zir (עז, זים, זיר) -''' Neopronouns with no English equivalent. They are based off of all three singular third person pronouns: ''er (ער)'', ''zi (זי)'', and ''es (עס)''. | ||
'''zi.er, zi_er, zier (זי.ער, זי—ער, זיער) -''' Combinations of he ''(er - ער)'' and she ''(zi - זי)''. | '''zi.er, zi_er, zier (זי.ער, זי—ער, זיער) -''' Combinations of he ''(er - ער)'' and she ''(zi - זי)''. | ||
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*[http://www.pronouns.failedslacker.com/ Failedslacker's Pronoun Dressing Room]. Choose a set of pronouns, and this page will show you how those pronouns look in action, by automatically putting them into sample texts from literature. Use this tool to test pronouns that you like, to see how they look in use. | *[http://www.pronouns.failedslacker.com/ Failedslacker's Pronoun Dressing Room]. Choose a set of pronouns, and this page will show you how those pronouns look in action, by automatically putting them into sample texts from literature. Use this tool to test pronouns that you like, to see how they look in use. | ||
*[http://www.practicewithpronouns.com/ Practice With Pronouns]. A game that lets you practice putting pronouns into different parts of sample sentences, so that you can get used to the grammar. | *[http://www.practicewithpronouns.com/ Practice With Pronouns]. A game that lets you practice putting pronouns into different parts of sample sentences, so that you can get used to the grammar. | ||
*[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. | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20190124010616/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. | ||
*[https://pronouny.xyz/ Pronouny]. Website where you can create an account to share your pronouns. | *[https://pronouny.xyz/ Pronouny]. Website where you can create an account to share your pronouns. | ||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20201005220311/https://anagnori.tumblr.com/post/75752291700/a-non-binary-persons-guide-to-invented-pronouns A Non-Binary Person's Guide to Invented Pronouns] | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20201005220311/https://anagnori.tumblr.com/post/75752291700/a-non-binary-persons-guide-to-invented-pronouns A Non-Binary Person's Guide to Invented Pronouns] | ||
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<references />46. Manifesto Ile para uma comunicação radicalemnte inclusiva | <references />46. Manifesto Ile para uma comunicação radicalemnte inclusiva | ||
https://diversitybbox.com/pt/manifesto-ile-para-uma-comunicacao-radicalmente-inclusiva/ | https://web.archive.org/web/20210920071746/https://diversitybbox.com/pt/manifesto-ile-para-uma-comunicacao-radicalmente-inclusiva/ | ||
47. Guia Linguagem Inclusiva HBO e [DIVERSITY BBOX] | 47. Guia Linguagem Inclusiva HBO e [DIVERSITY BBOX] | ||