Thread: he or she

Some people feel that English is a sexist language because it has no gender-neutral pronoun. For example: "Each student should bring his book to class." Some argue that the use of "his" is sexist. So some believe that you should say "Each student should bring his or her book to class." I personally think that's ridiculous, but I was wondering if there are any such issues in Russian.

Например:

Правильно сказать "Кто-то сделал что-то" или "Кто-то сделали что-то"?

и т.д.

Well, based on my crummy Russian expertise, Russian is just as "sexist" if you want to argue that garbage. You will always use кто-то + masc. verb -- with the -и it's plural and that doesn't work AFAIK. Now, on the other hand, if you're a big fan of animals THEY also take кто and not что -- the family pet, just like a gorilla at the zoo will take кто in a situation where you need an interogative pronoun for them (Мое любимое животное -- тот олен, кто был в фильме Бамби).

Originally Posted by Бармалей

Well, based on my crummy Russian expertise, Russian is just as "sexist" if you want to argue that garbage. You will always use кто-то + masc. verb -- with the -и it's plural and that doesn't work AFAIK. Now, on the other hand, if you're a big fan of animals THEY also take кто and not что -- the family pet, just like a gorilla at the zoo will take кто in a situation where you need an interogative pronoun for them (Мое любимое животное -- тот олен, кто был в фильме Бамби).

Мое любимое животное -- тот олень, что/который был в фильме Бэмби. You can't say "кто" here. But you also can't say "кто" in the same case about some man: "Мой любимый актёр XXX -- тот, что/который (but not "кто") играл в фильме YYY".

It = English gender neutral pronoun.

Use 'it' anytime you wish, instead of 'he' or 'she'. You may receive stares, and you'll probably offend someone calling her/him an 'it'... but 'it' is 'gender neutral'! So, it is 'politically correct.'!

Have fun!

(Why do we worry about such things??)

P.S. 's/he' is often used in legal documents as an acceptable gender-neutral pronoun.

Originally Posted by brucewayne

Правильно сказать "Кто-то сделал что-то" или "Кто-то сделали что-то"?

Correct is only: "Кто-то сделал что-то". "Кто-то сделали что-то" - we don't say so. The possible variant is: "Какие-то люди что-то сделали".

Originally Posted by brucewayne

Some people feel that English is a sexist language because it has no gender-neutral pronoun. For example: "Each student should bring his book to class." Some argue that the use of "his" is sexist. So some believe that you should say "Each student should bring his or her book to class." I personally think that's ridiculous, but I was wondering if there are any such issues in Russian.

Например:

Правильно сказать "Кто-то сделал что-то" или "Кто-то сделали что-то"?

и т.д.

It's not the same in Russian:
Каждый студент должен принести свою книгу в класс

Originally Posted by Dobry

It = English gender neutral pronoun.

Use 'it' anytime you wish, instead of 'he' or 'she'. You may receive stares, and you'll probably offend someone calling her/him an 'it'... but 'it' is 'gender neutral'! So, it is 'politically correct.'!

Have fun!

(Why do we worry about such things??)

P.S. 's/he' is often used in legal documents as an acceptable gender-neutral pronoun.

Can I sue someone if he called me 'it'? I find this offensive.

Besides, this way you may be impying that I am a ... transvestite.

It is the same in proper English. "One should brings ones books to class."

People just are lazy or informal these days.

My missus is reading a book about bringing up a baby at the moment. The author has chosen to remain politically correct by alternating "he" and "she" whenever he (or she) mentions the reader's baby.

"At this time your baby will start making more noises. He might spend hours making a single sound, or she might make a range of different sounds. Encourage him, she'll like that."

Madness. And irritating to read too.

Originally Posted by Dobry

It = English gender neutral pronoun.

Use 'it' anytime you wish, instead of 'he' or 'she'. You may receive stares, and you'll probably offend someone calling her/him an 'it'... but 'it' is 'gender neutral'! So, it is 'politically correct.'!

Have fun!

(Why do we worry about such things??)

P.S. 's/he' is often used in legal documents as an acceptable gender-neutral pronoun.

Я подумал, что надо писать "she/he". Или еще хуже - "he or she".

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Dobry

It = English gender neutral pronoun.

Use 'it' anytime you wish, instead of 'he' or 'she'. You may receive stares, and you'll probably offend someone calling her/him an 'it'... but 'it' is 'gender neutral'! So, it is 'politically correct.'!

Have fun!

(Why do we worry about such things??)

P.S. 's/he' is often used in legal documents as an acceptable gender-neutral pronoun.

Я подумал, что надо писать "she/he". Или еще хуже - "he or she".

No, no... for business and legal documents you can use 's/he'... simpler, and more efficient.

Originally Posted by Ramil

Can I sue someone if he called me 'it'? I find this offensive.

Besides, this way you may be impying that I am a ... transvestite.

Can I be your lawyer?

Welcome to U.S. politics.

Originally Posted by Dobry

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Dobry

It = English gender neutral pronoun.

Use 'it' anytime you wish, instead of 'he' or 'she'. You may receive stares, and you'll probably offend someone calling her/him an 'it'... but 'it' is 'gender neutral'! So, it is 'politically correct.'!

Have fun!

(Why do we worry about such things??)

P.S. 's/he' is often used in legal documents as an acceptable gender-neutral pronoun.

Я подумал, что надо писать "she/he". Или еще хуже - "he or she".

No, no... for business and legal documents you can use 's/he'... simpler, and more efficient.

Лол, ок. But it looks ugly!

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Dobry

Originally Posted by basurero

Originally Posted by Dobry

It = English gender neutral pronoun.

Use 'it' anytime you wish, instead of 'he' or 'she'. You may receive stares, and you'll probably offend someone calling her/him an 'it'... but 'it' is 'gender neutral'! So, it is 'politically correct.'!

Have fun!

(Why do we worry about such things??)

P.S. 's/he' is often used in legal documents as an acceptable gender-neutral pronoun.

Я подумал, что надо писать "she/he". Или еще хуже - "he or she".

No, no... for business and legal documents you can use 's/he'... simpler, and more efficient.

Лол, ок. But it looks ugly!

And you thought America is pretty?

It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.

Perfectly PC.

Originally Posted by adoc

It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again.

Perfectly PC.

Ahahaha. You are one sick man, Buffalo Bill...

And how do Russians deal with phrases like "he or she"? I know they don't just say "он или она", do they just use он as a default gender-neutral pronoun, referring to both men and women?

Originally Posted by brucewayne

And how do Russians deal with phrases like "he or she"? I know they don't just say "он или она", do they just use он as a default gender-neutral pronoun, referring to both men and women?

Non necessarily, we may just use оно

I have found the perfect word to use for all occasions. It is politically correct and covers all three words, "she", "he" and "it" at the same time. Here it is;

Sh1t

S = she
H = he
IT = it

You can just say this word when talking about your boyfriend or girlfriend or even a baby. ie "Sh1t is crying! It's time to feed the little sh1t!"

Originally Posted by DDT

I have found the perfect word to use for all occasions. It is politically correct and covers all three words, "she", "he" and "it" at the same time. Here it is;

Sh1t

S = she
H = he
IT = it

You can just say this word when talking about your boyfriend or girlfriend or even a baby. ie "Sh1t is crying! It's time to feed the little sh1t!"