They/Them Pronouns Predate Pride...And Shakespeare | Rainbow History Class | TEDxYouth@Sydney

TL;DR

The history of the singular pronoun "they" reveals its roots, controversies, and evolution towards inclusivity.

Transcript

thank you how did one of the most ubiquitous words of the English language come to be so controversial they them is such an absurd concept how can you be a plural it is really Sinister mainstream Publications completely mangled English language deliberately it's it's goodness if it is ago you wouldn't have thought this was possible welcome to Rainb... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤑 "They/Them" pronouns have a rich history rooted in inclusivity and language evolution.
• 😐 Linguistic insecurity and attempts to mimic Latin grammar led to the rejection of gender-neutral pronouns in English.
• 🙈 Advocacy for inclusive language, as seen through the suffragette movement, continues to shape linguistic norms.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the pronoun "they" originate?

The pronoun "they" was borrowed from Old Norse by Old English speakers seeking a gender-neutral option, making its debut in a medieval romance.

Q: Why did linguists model English grammar after Latin in the 1600s?

English linguists felt inferior to Latin and attempted to align English with Latin's structure, leading to the rejection of gender-neutral pronouns like "they."

Q: How did suffragettes utilize the pronoun "he" in their fight for voting rights?

The suffragettes cleverly argued that if "he" was the generic pronoun, it should include women too, challenging laws and linguistic norms of exclusion.

Q: How has the use of gender-neutral pronouns evolved over time?

From experimenting with new pronouns in the 1970s to the acceptance of "they/them" pronouns, language adaptation reflects societal changes towards inclusivity.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The use of "they" as a gender-neutral pronoun dates back centuries.

• In the 1600s, linguistic insecurity led to the rejection of gender-neutral pronouns like "they."

• Advocacy for inclusive language continues through history, highlighting the importance of pronouns in social justice.