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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
"Hu," from "human," as a pronoun
"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 (hu:), like "hu" in "human." Its brevity and morphological structure (one open syllable: a consonant + a vowel) makes it similar to other personal pronouns a typical, easily recognizable member of this class: he - she - hu. It's truly neutral and has no artificial flavor, as some other candidates to the rank of NEW PRONOUN, such as "o, et, han, na "etc.
The motivation HUman is always implied in "hu's"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: flu, piano, condo...
As a sound pattern, "hu" is the closest to the only other genderless, singular, person-related English pronoun: the interrogative "who." They are naturally drawn to each other both by rhyming and communicational context, as a question and the answer: (hu:)? - (hju:). "Hu" designates precisely that generic, ungendered HUman to whom the question "who?" is addressed. Thus the answer is prompted the question itself. Who? - Hu.
Several 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.
An employee may choose to cover only huself and hu's child or any number of children.
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?
The motivation HUman is always implied in "hu's"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: flu, piano, condo...
As a sound pattern, "hu" is the closest to the only other genderless, singular, person-related English pronoun: the interrogative "who." They are naturally drawn to each other both by rhyming and communicational context, as a question and the answer: (hu:)? - (hju:). "Hu" designates precisely that generic, ungendered HUman to whom the question "who?" is addressed. Thus the answer is prompted the question itself. Who? - Hu.
Several 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.
An employee may choose to cover only huself and hu's child or any number of children.
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] (snip obvious explication) There are dozens and dozens of proposed gender-neutral pronouns, including a number which are in regular use, although usually by pretty small numbers of people. We don't need yet another (if this is even original, which I rather doubt). If you can think of a practical program to get people to actually use any of them, that would be new.
- [/nq] (snip obvious explication) There are dozens and dozens of proposed gender-neutral pronouns, including a number which are in regular use, although usually by pretty small numbers of people.
- We don't need yet another (if this is even original, which I rather doubt).
- If you can think of a practical program to get people to actually use any of them, that would be new.
- As it is, you are just re-inventing the wheel.
- Don Aitken Mail to the addresses given in the headers is no longer being read.
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29 Answers
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[nq:1]"Hu," from "human," as a gender-neutral pronoun.[/nq]
(snip obvious explication)
There are dozens and dozens of proposed gender-neutral pronouns, including a number which are in regular use, although usually by pretty small numbers of people. We don't need yet another (if this is even original, which I rather doubt). If you can think of a practical program to get people to actually
(snip obvious explication)
There are dozens and dozens of proposed gender-neutral pronouns, including a number which are in regular use, although usually by pretty small numbers of people. We don't need yet another (if this is even original, which I rather doubt). If you can think of a practical program to get people to actually
00
[nq:1]As it is, you are just re-inventing the wheel.[/nq]
Your last sentence is insensitive to those hu don't have wheels.
Your last sentence is insensitive to those hu don't have wheels.
00
[nq:1]"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 (hu:), like "hu" in "human." Its brevity and morphological[/nq]
The in isn't pronounced (hu:).
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . c
The in isn't pronounced (hu:).
Raymond S. Wise
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
E-mail: mplsray @ yahoo . c
00
[nq:2]"Hu," from "human," as a gender-neutral pronoun. In our class ... pronounced (hu:), like "hu" in "human." Its brevity and morphological[/nq]
[nq:1]The in isn't pronounced (hu:).[/nq]
It depends on what your meaning of (hu:) is.
I don't suppose Emory has any Trad NY speakers; things could get very confusing.
[nq:1]The in isn't pronounced (hu:).[/nq]
It depends on what your meaning of (hu:) is.
I don't suppose Emory has any Trad NY speakers; things could get very confusing.
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[nq:2]As it is, you are just re-inventing the wheel.[/nq]
[nq:1]Your last sentence is insensitive to those hu don't have wheels.[/nq]
I was going to make a 'who' joke. Hu who waits to do a great deal of good at once..
[nq:1]Your last sentence is insensitive to those hu don't have wheels.[/nq]
I was going to make a 'who' joke. Hu who waits to do a great deal of good at once..
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[nq:1]"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 (hu:), like "hu" in "human."[/nq]
But the "hu" in human is either (hju:) (Hugh) or (ju:) (you); (hu:) is "who"
[nq:1]Its brevity and morphological structure (one open syllable: a c
But the "hu" in human is either (hju:) (Hugh) or (ju:) (you); (hu:) is "who"
[nq:1]Its brevity and morphological structure (one open syllable: a c
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[nq:2]"Hu," from "human," as a gender-neutral pronoun. In our class ... gender-neutral pronoun. It is pronounced (hu:), like "hu" in "human."[/nq]
[nq:1]But the "hu" in human is either (hju:) (Hugh) or (ju:) (you); (hu:) is "who"[/nq]
Not only that, in English, 'hu' used to mean 'how or hue' - and we already have a perfectly good word for the 3rd person singular (I assume that this idea do
[nq:1]But the "hu" in human is either (hju:) (Hugh) or (ju:) (you); (hu:) is "who"[/nq]
Not only that, in English, 'hu' used to mean 'how or hue' - and we already have a perfectly good word for the 3rd person singular (I assume that this idea do
00
[nq:1]"hu,"[/nq]
[nq:2]But the "hu" in human is either (hju:) (Hugh) or (ju:) (you); (hu:) is "who"[/nq]
[nq:1]Not only that, in English, 'hu' used to mean 'how or hue' - and we already have a perfectly good ... to replace perfectly good words with silly ones - still, as we know, there are plenty of daft people about.[/nq]
Not only that, but ((h)u:), is Lancashire dialect for a certain
[nq:2]But the "hu" in human is either (hju:) (Hugh) or (ju:) (you); (hu:) is "who"[/nq]
[nq:1]Not only that, in English, 'hu' used to mean 'how or hue' - and we already have a perfectly good ... to replace perfectly good words with silly ones - still, as we know, there are plenty of daft people about.[/nq]
Not only that, but ((h)u:), is Lancashire dialect for a certain
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[nq:1]"Hu," from "human," as a gender-neutral pronoun. In our class on the future of the humanities (at Emory) we are ... absence. * * * How does it sound to you? Ready to use it? Any pros and contras?[/nq]
What about people who drop their aitches? It then becomes you. m.
What about people who drop their aitches? It then becomes you. m.
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[nq:1]I don't suppose Emory has any Trad NY speakers; things could get very confusing.[/nq]
What hu lookin' at?
What hu lookin' at?
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