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Article published In:
Nonbinary pronouns as a site of advocacy in research and teaching
Edited by Lex Konnelly, Bronwyn M. Bjorkman and Lee Airton
[Journal of Language and Sexuality 11:2] 2022
► pp. 141–164

Variation in English gendered pronouns

Analysis and recommendations for ethics in linguistics

 | Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, USASwarthmore
This paper describes an ongoing shift in the pronominal system of English that is primarily related to transgender and non-binary identities. Apparent time evidence suggests that this is an ongoing change, and metalinguistic comments support the indexical link between the change and the increased visibility of transgender and non-binary English speakers. Sociopragmatic variation enabled by this change shows that the pronoun system of English functions much less like a grammatical gender (noun class) system, and much more like a system of honorifics. The second half of the paper puts forward a position for social justice around pronoun use and gender autonomy, including advice for professional linguists who work in related fields.
Keywords: gender, pronouns, transgender, non-binary
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 1.Variation and change in the pronoun system
    • 1.1Production of singular they in sociolinguistic interviews
    • 1.2Online acceptability judgment study
    • 1.3Pragmatics of pronominal choice
  • 2.What should we do about it?
    • 2.1How to start noticing
    • 2.2How to talk about it
    • 2.3How to teach it
  • 3.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 4 August 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/jls.20026.con
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