Subtitle : A General & Specific Discussion of Gender-Neutral Alternatives to Gendered Pronouns, Including Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Version 0.9.13— 30 April, 2004
(minor to medium-sized additions and changes...)

[Note: it currently looks like this page may not get updated again until Fall 1997...er 1999... ...er...um...maybe never. But i wrote a story which used GNPs, called Dirt Fugue, and i've twiddled about with the formatting. So all is not static.]

[ Contents . Introduction . FAQ . History . Technical . References . Administrivia ]

1. Table of Contents

1. Table of Contents
   1. (infinite loop carefully avoided here)
2. Introduction
   1. Purpose of this FAQ
   2. Conventions Used in this FAQ
   3. Finding the FAQ
   4. Et Cetera
3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
   1. Are all these questions really frequently asked?
   2. What is a "gender-neutral pronoun"? What are some examples?
   3. What precedent or support is there for the adoption of GNPs?
   4. Which GNPs are in active use on the net? Is there a standard?
   5. Where should I post comments about gender-neutral pronouns? Where shouldn't I?
   6. Why not just use "one", "they", "he/she", "it", "his or her"?
   7. Why Do People Like or Dislike Gender-Neutral Pronouns?
4. Neologism History & Evaluation
   1. History
      1. Native-English GNPs
      2. Language Authorities
      3. Modern Neologism
   2. Evaluation
      1. Criteria Used
      2. How to Read the Entries
      3. Set Completion
      4. Sundry Notes
      5. Comprehensive Listing of Neologisms
5. Getting More Technical: Standards for the Big Three
   1. Declension of Conventional Personal Pronouns
   2. Declension of the Major Gender-Neutral Pronouns
   3. A Single Standard?
   4. Voting & Surveys
6. References & Related Realms
   1. Sources Used in Preparation of this FAQ
   2. Literature & Usage Examples
   3. Newsgroups
   4. MUDs
   5. Language; Gender
      1. Language Resources
      2. Language Fun
      3. Neologism and/or "PC" Opponents
      4. Androgyny & Intersexual Issues
      5. Sexist Language Reform
         1. Effects of sexist language
         2. Honorifics & Salutations
         3. Jokes and Experiments
         4. References
         5. General Gender Issues
   6. Non-English GNPs
7. Administrivia
   1. Preword
   2. FAQ ACK
   3. To-Do
   4. Afterface

[ Contents . Introduction . FAQ . History . Technical . References . Administrivia ]

John Williams | Æther Lumina Home