What exactly is the pronoun 'They' used for?

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zkydz
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17 Jun 2016, 12:11 pm

I can't remember....thanks.....


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LittleLu
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17 Jun 2016, 12:14 pm

Genderfluid people, androgynes, multigender, trigender, basically anybody who is nonbinary and doesn't fit in the realm of "male" or "female" but doesn't fit with the "he/him" or "she/her" pronouns either.


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zkydz
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17 Jun 2016, 12:18 pm

Why thank you very much!!


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Edenthiel
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17 Jun 2016, 10:50 pm

I've noticed it is starting to be used simply as a universal pronoun. Far simpler to just use they/their for everyone...


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zkydz
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17 Jun 2016, 11:30 pm

It's still weird for me as a concept just because it is plural and you are talking about a singular person. But, it is the chosen pronoun...


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LittleLu
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18 Jun 2016, 7:48 am

I've actually seen the pronoun "hir" and "hem" used to describe other genders. Like a mix between "her" and "him."


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zkydz
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18 Jun 2016, 8:10 am

LittleLu wrote:
I've actually seen the pronoun "hir" and "hem" used to describe other genders. Like a mix between "her" and "him."
Unfortunately, they sound the same as before and would only work as written. However, the one thing I do like about 'they' is that it's a bit more mysterious sounding.

But, the plural thing bugs me. Old dog and all that stuff. Old dog on the verbiage and not conceptually. Make sense?


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18 Jun 2016, 8:11 am

zkydz wrote:
LittleLu wrote:
I've actually seen the pronoun "hir" and "hem" used to describe other genders. Like a mix between "her" and "him."
Unfortunately, they sound the same as before and would only work as written. However, the one thing I do like about 'they' is that it's a bit more mysterious sounding.

But, the plural thing bugs me. Old dog and all that stuff. Old dog on the verbiage and not conceptually. Make sense?

I do agree with you. I like the usage of "they" better than the others. Although I will admit I'm a little jealous of some languages that actually have a real word for other genders that's recognized widely.


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zkydz
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18 Jun 2016, 8:16 am

Some languages don't have gender pronouns at all. In Cantonese 'Kui' means person. Period. Everything else is derived by context as to whom or gender you are referring to. Even the names are gender neutral. But the roles are very rigid and not gender neutral at all.

But, for my purposes, 'They' is absolutely perfect. There is an interesting mystery to the wording that fits.


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18 Jun 2016, 11:02 am

I use it to mean "more than one person other than myself."

I never use it in the singular.



zkydz
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18 Jun 2016, 11:11 am

This was why I wanted to make sure.

"They"
Image


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kraftiekortie
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18 Jun 2016, 11:26 am

Maybe he has multiple personalities :wink:



naturalplastic
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18 Jun 2016, 11:27 am

"They" used to be "third person plural".

"That bunch! Just who do they think they are?"

But in playing 20 questions when you didnt know the gender of the mystery person, or didnt want to give it away, you would refer to the mystery person as "they" ( were they in politics?, are they still alive? Are they male?) even back in the day.

But now increasingly "they" is being used to mean "third person singular" even outside of guessing games. Guess "he,or she" just got too cumbersome.



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18 Jun 2016, 11:34 am

kraftiekortie wrote:
I use it to mean "more than one person other than myself." .


No. What you described is not "they". Its "we".

"More than one person in addition to myself" (also know as 'first person plural') is "we". Not "they".

"They" is third person plural.

"They" is not the plural of "I"(what you're saying). Its the plural of "him/her".



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18 Jun 2016, 11:48 am

naturalplastic wrote:
kraftiekortie wrote:
I use it to mean "more than one person other than myself." .


No. What you described is not "they". Its "we".
That is incorrect. "We" is inclusive of the speaker.
"We are going to the beach." The speaker/narrator and other people.

"They" is exclusive in that it excludes the speaker/narrator from the group. "They are going to the beach. The speaker/narrator is staying home to do things."

Kraftie specifically said "more than one person other than [himself]." Ergo, he is correct.


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naturalplastic
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18 Jun 2016, 12:44 pm

zkydz wrote:
naturalplastic wrote:
kraftiekortie wrote:
I use it to mean "more than one person other than myself." .


No. What you described is not "they". Its "we".
That is incorrect. "We" is inclusive of the speaker.
"We are going to the beach." The speaker/narrator and other people.

"They" is exclusive in that it excludes the speaker/narrator from the group. "They are going to the beach. The speaker/narrator is staying home to do things."

Kraftie specifically said "more than one person other than [himself]." Ergo, he is correct.


Sorry. Not correct.

Niether Krafty, nor any one else in the English speaking world ever uses it the way you describe.

You use "they" when you mean "a group of people" who (a) dont not include yourself (ergo not first person), AND (you forget) do not include "you" (the person being addressed) (ergo not second person either), but would be "he" or "she" if they were a single individual (ergo third person, and plural).

About "we".

And "we" can either include the person being addressed ("we are going to the beach"),or NOT include the person being addressed ("we dont like your attitude,so we are gonna beat the tar outta you!"). But whether it includes the person being addressed or not "we" is still "first person plural"

"We" can include the person being addressed, or not. Either way it is still first person singular.