{"id":205936,"date":"2020-01-06T23:06:58","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T15:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geek.com\/featured\/-1815428\/"},"modified":"2020-01-06T23:06:58","modified_gmt":"2020-01-06T15:06:58","slug":"gender-neutral-they-pronoun-is-americas-word-of-the-decade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/test\/wordpress\/2020\/01\/06\/gender-neutral-they-pronoun-is-americas-word-of-the-decade\/","title":{"rendered":"Gender-Neutral \u2018They\u2019 Pronoun Is America\u2019s Word of the Decade"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: Crain Communications<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The American Dialect Society has chosen<\/a> the unlikely “(my) pronouns” (as in “<\/span>my pronouns<\/span><\/i> are she\/her”) as Word of the Year 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking determiners to the next level, ADS also recognized the singular “they” (Word of the Year 2015) as its Word of the Decade.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When a basic part of speech like the pronoun becomes a vital indicator of social trends, linguists pay attention,” according to Ben Zimmer, chair of the group’s New Words Committee and language columnist for <\/span>The Wall Street Journal<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditionally regarded as one of the parts of speech (though increasingly considered a single class<\/a>), the complex pronoun can be plural or singular, personal or possessive, reflexive or reciprocal, demonstrative or indefinite, relative or interrogative.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, they have been co-opted into the gender identity movement.<\/span><\/p>\n

“The selection of\u00a0 ‘<\/span>(my) pronouns’\u00a0<\/span><\/i>as Word of the Year speaks to how the personal expression of gender identity has become an increasing part of our shared discourse,” Zimmer said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Runners up included pop culture darlings “OK Boomer,” “cancel,” and “Karen.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“That trend is also reflected in <\/span>singular <\/i>‘<\/span>they’\u00a0<\/span><\/i>being chosen as Word of the Decade,” he continued, “with a growing recognition of the use of ‘they’ for those whose identities don’t conform to the binary of ‘he’ or ‘she.’”<\/span><\/p>\n

The singular “they” has a long history in English, but the term as a non-binary pronoun is relatively new\u2014and immensely important.<\/span><\/p>\n

Its acknowledgement by Merriam-Webster<\/a>, Dictionary.com<\/a>, and ADS is a significant step forward for folks whose pronouns are “they” and “them”\u2014traditionally used to refer to a single person of unknown or undetermined gender.<\/span><\/p>\n

The term gained global attention thanks to entertainers like Sam Smith<\/a>, Asia Kate Dillon, Tommy Dorfman, Indya Moore, and Lachlan Watson, and has been prominent in the news.<\/span><\/p>\n

Word of the Decade nominees also included “#BlackLivesMatter,” “climate,” “emoji,” “meme,” “#MeToo,” “opioid crisis,” “selfie,” and “woke.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The American Dialect Society’s long-running affair\u2014the oldest such vote anywhere\u2014is informed by members’ expertise in the study of words. But it’s not the solemn occasion you may imagine.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the organization’s linguists, lexicographers, etymologists, grammarians, historians, researchers, writers, editors, students, and independent scholars “act in fun,” highlighting that language change “is normal, ongoing, and entertaining.”<\/span><\/p>\n

ADS goes on to choose additional annual superlatives, like Political Word of the Year (“quid pro quo”), Slang\/Informal Word of the Year (“and I oop\u2013”), Euphemism of the Year (“people of means”), and Digital Word of the Year (“im*peach emoji*”).<\/span><\/p>\n

In a companion poll, sibling alliance the American Name Society chose “<\/span>Arrokoth<\/span><\/i>” (a far-flung minor planet) as its 15th annual Name of the Year 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

More on Geek.com:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n