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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
"Hu," from "human," as a gender-neutral pronoun
In our class on the future of the humanities (at Emory) we are using "hu", a clipping from "human", as a 3rd person gender-neutral pronoun. It is pronounced (hju:), like "hu" in "human". Its brevity and morphological structure (one open syllable: a consonant + a vowel) make it similar to other personal pronouns -- a typical, easily recognizable member of this class: he - she - hu. It is truly neutral and has no artificial flavor, as some other candidates to the rank of a NEW PRONOUN, such as "o, et, han, na," etc. The motivation -- the genderless HUman--is always implied in "hu"'s usage. "Hu" belongs to the category of back-clippings, in which an element or elements are taken from the end of a word: flu (influenza) lab(oratory), math(ematics), ad(vertisement), piano(forte), and condo(minium). Endings with an open syllable, like in "hu", are ordinary in such clippings as flu, piano, condo...
As a sound pattern, "hu" is closest to the only other genderless, singular, person-related English pronoun: the interrogative "who". Both pronouns are naturally drawn to each other by rhyming and communicational contexts, as a question and the answer: (hu:)? - (hju:). "Hu" designates precisely that generic, un-gendered HUman to whom the question "who?" is addressed. Thus the answer is prompted by the question itself. Who? - Hu.
The derivative forms of "hu": reflexive "huself" ( (hju:self), possessive "hu's" (hju:z), and objective "hu'm" (hju:m). At the first stages of usage, an apostrophe may be inserted to clarify the pronunciation, but then (') may be conveniently dropped, as there is no "hus" in English, and it's difficult to confuse contextually "hu'm" with "hum" (ham) (murmuring sound).
Examples:
Anyone who believes that hu has a conflict of interests should not serve as an investigator.
When the lecturer arrives, hu will be speaking on the topic of anonymity.
A hero is one who places huself at risk for another.
Someone who talks about killing huself will never actually do it.
An employee may choose to cover only huself and hu's child or any number of children.
If a person introduces huself to you using hu's patronymic, use it to address hu'm as a sign of respect.
Having received a response from your benefactor, you should follow up with a polite, handwritten letter thanking hu'm for hu's assistance.
Before a researcher receives a certificate for hu's invention, it needs to be determined whether the invention was made in the course of hu's normal duties or of duties specially assigned to hu'm.
The vice-president shall support the president and take the place when hu is in absence.
* * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?
As a sound pattern, "hu" is closest to the only other genderless, singular, person-related English pronoun: the interrogative "who". Both pronouns are naturally drawn to each other by rhyming and communicational contexts, as a question and the answer: (hu:)? - (hju:). "Hu" designates precisely that generic, un-gendered HUman to whom the question "who?" is addressed. Thus the answer is prompted by the question itself. Who? - Hu.
The derivative forms of "hu": reflexive "huself" ( (hju:self), possessive "hu's" (hju:z), and objective "hu'm" (hju:m). At the first stages of usage, an apostrophe may be inserted to clarify the pronunciation, but then (') may be conveniently dropped, as there is no "hus" in English, and it's difficult to confuse contextually "hu'm" with "hum" (ham) (murmuring sound).
Examples:
Anyone who believes that hu has a conflict of interests should not serve as an investigator.
When the lecturer arrives, hu will be speaking on the topic of anonymity.
A hero is one who places huself at risk for another.
Someone who talks about killing huself will never actually do it.
An employee may choose to cover only huself and hu's child or any number of children.
If a person introduces huself to you using hu's patronymic, use it to address hu'm as a sign of respect.
Having received a response from your benefactor, you should follow up with a polite, handwritten letter thanking hu'm for hu's assistance.
Before a researcher receives a certificate for hu's invention, it needs to be determined whether the invention was made in the course of hu's normal duties or of duties specially assigned to hu'm.
The vice-president shall support the president and take the place when hu is in absence.
* * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?
Top answer
[nq:1]How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? [/nq] I'm hardly a terroristic rebel, so mark me down as a 'Nay', rather than a 'contra'.
- [nq:1]How does it sound to you?
- Ready to use it?
- [/nq] I'm hardly a terroristic rebel, so mark me down as a 'Nay', rather than a 'contra'.
- com/mwal / --
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27 Answers
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[nq:1]How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
I'm hardly a terroristic rebel, so mark me down as a 'Nay', rather than a 'contra'.
-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://
I'm hardly a terroristic rebel, so mark me down as a 'Nay', rather than a 'contra'.
-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://
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In article , Mark Wallace (Email Removed) writes
[nq:1] [/nq]
[nq:2]How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm hardly a terroristic rebel, so mark me down as a 'Nay', rather than a 'contra'. If someone wants to use it, they're welcome ;-)[/nq]
-- Dave OSOS#24 (Email Removed) Remove my gerbil for email replies
Yamaha XJ900S & Wessex sid
[nq:1] [/nq]
[nq:2]How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
[nq:1]I'm hardly a terroristic rebel, so mark me down as a 'Nay', rather than a 'contra'. If someone wants to use it, they're welcome ;-)[/nq]
-- Dave OSOS#24 (Email Removed) Remove my gerbil for email replies
Yamaha XJ900S & Wessex sid
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(Email Removed) spake thus:
[nq:1]In our class on the future of the humanities (at Emory) we are using "hu", a clipping from "human", as a 3rd person gender-neutral pronoun. It is pronounced (hju:), like "hu" in "human".[/nq]
Pronounced that way by some speakers of English.
[nq:1]* * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
It sounds terrible, as do
[nq:1]In our class on the future of the humanities (at Emory) we are using "hu", a clipping from "human", as a 3rd person gender-neutral pronoun. It is pronounced (hju:), like "hu" in "human".[/nq]
Pronounced that way by some speakers of English.
[nq:1]* * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
It sounds terrible, as do
00
[nq:1]The derivative forms of "hu": reflexive "huself" ( (hju:self), possessive "hu's" (hju:z), and objective "hu'm" (hju:m). At the first ... dropped, as there is no "hus" in English, and it's difficult to confuse contextually "hu'm" with "hum" (ham) (murmuring sound).[/nq]
Why should it be the only pronoun that uses apostrophes for possessive (or that has a possessive written identically to
Why should it be the only pronoun that uses apostrophes for possessive (or that has a possessive written identically to
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[nq:1](Email Removed) spake thus:[/nq]
[nq:2]In our class on the future of the humanities (at ... gender-neutral pronoun. It is pronounced (hju:), like "hu" in "human".[/nq]
[nq:1]Pronounced that way by some speakers of English.[/nq]
[nq:2]* * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
[nq:1]It sounds terrible, as do most attempts to invent new parts o
[nq:2]In our class on the future of the humanities (at ... gender-neutral pronoun. It is pronounced (hju:), like "hu" in "human".[/nq]
[nq:1]Pronounced that way by some speakers of English.[/nq]
[nq:2]* * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
[nq:1]It sounds terrible, as do most attempts to invent new parts o
00
I can see one problem. In Missouri they will pronounce it 'you'.
"When the lecturer arrives, (you) will be speaking on the topic of anonymity."
"When the lecturer arrives, (you) will be speaking on the topic of anonymity."
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[nq:1]In our class on the future of the humanities (at Emory) we are using "hu", a clipping from "human", as ... similar to other personal pronouns -- a typical, easily recognizable member of this class: he - she - hu. [/nq]
Well, it's obviously a blend of "he" and "you", so it would serve well as a non-specific 2d AND 3d person pronoun. Either he, or you, or both.
It would al
Well, it's obviously a blend of "he" and "you", so it would serve well as a non-specific 2d AND 3d person pronoun. Either he, or you, or both.
It would al
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[nq:1]Why should it be the only pronoun that uses apostrophes for possessive (or that has a possessive written identically to its contraction with "is")? [/nq]
It's not. "One's" does too. As do some of the others, historically.
\\P. Schultz
It's not. "One's" does too. As do some of the others, historically.
\\P. Schultz
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(...)
[nq:1]How does it sound to you?[/nq]
Awful. And I mean literally: it sounds awful. A word that will be used with immense frequency needs a simpler sound.
[nq:1]Ready to use it?[/nq]
No.
[nq:1]Any pros and contras?[/nq]
Aside from the sound, deliberately constructed neuter pronouns are vieux jeu, and never, ever catch on.
The word that is wanted, and l
[nq:1]How does it sound to you?[/nq]
Awful. And I mean literally: it sounds awful. A word that will be used with immense frequency needs a simpler sound.
[nq:1]Ready to use it?[/nq]
No.
[nq:1]Any pros and contras?[/nq]
Aside from the sound, deliberately constructed neuter pronouns are vieux jeu, and never, ever catch on.
The word that is wanted, and l
00
[nq:1]But, in reality, no "designed" fix is going to work. One will evolve, or not. We can but watch and listen.[/nq]
Ok, am I the only one who doesn't believe the source of that statement?
-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site
Ok, am I the only one who doesn't believe the source of that statement?
-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site
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