Re: Epicene pronoun (was: French (was: Optimum number of symbols))

I wrote:
>>>The one I really like was introduced (without success, of course) by
Marge
>>>Piercy in her lovely novel "Woman at the Edge of Time"-- _per_, used for
>>>subject/object, _pers_ possessive. (< person, of course)

BP Jonsson/Ray Brown wrote:
>>The only alternative with some chance of success is, of course, _they_,
>>since it is strictly speaking not a neologism at all!
>
>Not only with some chance of success - but is the normal one used in
>collquial English when pedants don't interfere.  You are quite right that
>"it is strictly speaking not a neologism at all".  It's been attested since
>the 19th century and is now well-entrenched.
Yes, "they/them/their" has its uses.
Ms. Piercy's _per_ was a replacement for singular he/his/him and
she/her(s)/her--
e.g. "I visited Mary at per (=her) house", "I like per (referring to a male
person) because of pers gentle nature".  I don't recall if it extended to
the plural-- "Everybody opened pers book", but it could have.
Whether this is an improvement, of course, is open to debate; also bear in
mind that the "con-culture" where this usage prevailed was, according to
interpretation, either the schizophrenic fantasy of a pathetically disturbed
person, or an alternate future Earth.)

I don't think we're going to start saying "I visited Mary at their (i.e.
her) house" etc.

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