GENDER NEUTRAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE UNITS
Keywords:
gender marked, gender neutral pronouns, gender variety, gender political correctnessAbstract
Language is one of the most important ways to identify one’s gender, as gender is shown by the choice of linguistic constructions. Any change in the perception of gender reflects on the language. Therefore it is clear from here that feminism and the expansion of the perception of gender have led to specific changes in language and this gives the basis for linguistic research. As a cultural phenomenon gender evokes a huge interest among scientists. Nevertheless there is a scientific gap in studying the influence of gender on the English language. Therefore the relevance of this research is based on the necessity of analyzing the connection between language and gender, in particular the specificity of usage gender-neutral language units. The research reveals the peculiarities of formation and functioning of the gender neutral pronouns in the English language under the influence of social and historical factors. The gender neutral pronouns are characterized and analyzed according to the purposes and spheres of their application in American English. The specificity of using gender marked and gender neutral language units is clarified. The research is focused on the changes of functioning the traditional gender neutral pronouns with time, and principles of characterizing new non-traditional gender neutral pronouns according to their usage. The gender neutral pronouns are divided by the spheres of functioning into two groups:1) that are used when there is no information about the gender identity of the subject of the speech and 2) that are used to avoid discrimination. Gender neutral units of language are used to avoid gender asymmetry - not propotional presentation of both genders. The representatives from feministic or LGBTQ+ communities claim that the usage of gender marked words impose stereotypical perception of the world which is wrong. The study reveals that the first introduction of the gender neutral pronouns was made in the form of the third person pronoun they used in singularity in cases when the information about person’s gender is not available or not to emphasize the state of being female and equalizing the social status of men and women. The traditional pronoun they in majority of cases is used to address to a person with unknown gender. New gender neutral pronouns like zie, en, his-her provide speakers with the possibility to avoid women discrimination, calling a member of LGBTQ+ community as an act of political correctness.
References
Бессонова О. Л. Оценочные стереотипы в контексте ґендерных исследований / О. Л. Бессонова // Нова філологія. – 2001. – № 1 (10). – С. 41–57
Горошко Е. И. Языковое сознание: гендерная парадигма / Е. И. Горошко. – Харьков : Издат. Дом «ИНЖЭК», 2003. – 245 с.
Дудоладова О. В. Динамика языковой репрезентации ґендера в английском публицистическом дискурсе (вторая половина XX–начало XXI века) : автореф. дис. … канд. филол. наук : 10.02.04 / О. В. Дудоладова. – Харьков, 2003. – 20 с.
Емiрсуїнова Г. I. Лексикон сучасного фемiнiзму (на матеріалi англiйської мови) : автореф. дис. … канд. фiлол. наук : спец. 10.02.04 «Германські мови» / Г. І. Емірсуїнова. – К., 2003. – 19 с.
Зацний Ю. А. Сучасний англомовний світ і збагачення словникового складу / Ю. А. Зацний. – Львів : ПАІС, 2007. – 226 с.
Мартинюк А. П. Конструювання ґендеру в англомовному дискурсі / А. П. Мартинюк. – Харків : Константа, 2004. – 292 с.
A new pronoun suggested // Baltimore Sun. –Dec. 13, 1886. – P. 6 [Electronic resource] – Mode of access : http://www.english.illinois.edu/-people-/faculty/debaron/essays/his_her_1886_Baltimore_Sun.pdf
Billions, сезон 2, серія 9, 1:03
Britt Caputo B. Gender Neutrality Hits Wesleyan. – Nov. 2, 2005
Butler, J. Gender trouble: feminism and the subversion of identity / J. Butler. – New York : Routledge, 1990.
Desprez-Bouanchaud A. Guidelines on Gender-Neutral Language, Unit for the Promotion of the Status of Women and Gender Equality / A. Desprez-Bouanchaud // UNESCO, 1999. – P. 5.
Dozier J. W. A New Pronoun / J. W. Dozier. – Atlanta Constitution, Sept. 20,1884. – P. 7 [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : http://www.english.illinois.edu/-people-/faculty/debaron/essays/dozier_ 1885_se.pdf
Ehrlich S. Language and Gender / S. Ehrlich // The Handbook of Applied Linguistics. – Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2004. – P. 866.
Frank F. Language and the Sexes / F. Frank, F. Anshen. – State University of New York, 1991. – 217 p.
Gender Neutral Pronouns: They’re Here, Get Used To Them [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : https://youtu.be/46ehrFk-gLk 2:43, 3:28.
Leeds J. W. The unsupplied common gender pronoun / J. W. Leeds // The Philadelphia Ledger. – Telegraph, 30 Mar., 1888. – P. 4.
Maltz, D. A cultural approach to male-female miscommunication / D. Maltz, R. Borker // Language and social identity. – Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1982. – P. 196–216.
Milne A. A. What’s the Good Word? A New Way to Better English / A. A. Milne. – N. Y. : Simon and Schuster, 1942. – P. 88–90.
Safire W. On Language / W. Safire // Houston Chronicle. – 2003. – June 29. – P. 6.
Shameless, 2011–2017 [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : https://youtu.be/ssTZtRQmhxY
Sherman C. P. The Literary World / C. P. Sherman. – Sept. 6, 1884. – P. 294.
Soloway J. Funny, Dirty, Sad: The “Holy Trinity” For “Transparent” / J. Soloway // National Public Radio. – October 30, 2014 [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php
Stoller R. J. Sex and gender: On the Development of Masculinity and Femininity / R. J. Stoller. – New York : Science House, 1968. – 426 p.
The Bridge, series 3, episode 1. – Nov. 2015 28:17
The Eagle // Semi-Weekly. – Brattleboro, VT. – Jan. 1, 1852. – P. 3 [Electronic resource]. –Mode of access : http://www.english.illinois.edu/-people/faculty/debaron/essays/1852_fish_us_up_one.pdf
The Wesleyan Argus [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2005/11/2/gender-neutrality-hits-wesleyan-with-the
West, C. Doing gender. Gender and discourse / C. West, D. Zimmerman. – London : Sage, 1987. – P. 1–20.
White R. G. The Galaxy / R. G. White. – Aug., 1868. – P. 241 [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pagevieweridx?c=gala;cc=gala;rgn=full%20text;idno=gala0006-2; didno=gala0006-2;view=image;seq=0247;node=gala0006-2%3A11
Why Pronouns Matter For Trans People [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : https://youtu.be/N_yBGQqg7kM 0:20; 1:00; 1:35; 1:43
Why “They” Was Voted the Word of the Year // Comma Queen [Electronic resource]. – Mode of access : https://youtu.be/CJrIcrHrfM4 0:23
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
