#(similar to ey/em being elverson and e/em being spivak)

[sanguinaryrot]

oh very interesting. i just found a proposal of a new english pronoun standard from 2015.......the proposal was to differentiate animate beings from inanimate things in order to be more mindful that we share an earth with all living beings. (a third person singular animate to join the current third person singular inanimate, it/its) Invented by Robin Wall Kimmerer inspired from studying her native Anishinaabe language, and adapted to closer fit english grammar standards by Kara Huntermoon in May of this year.

To Quote Robin Wall Kimmerer, "In Anishinaabe and many other indigenous languages, it’s impossible to speak of Sugar Maple as “it.” We use the same words to address all living beings as we do our family. Because they are our family."

the proposed set was ki/kin/kinself and if you want to use it here is a little aid:

Third person singular inanimate, it/its/itself:

it is a pencil. it is on the desk. please put it away before its paint chips.

vs

Third person singular animate, ki/kin/kinself

ki is a dogwood. ki is my favorite tree. you can sit under kins branches for shade. OR What is that? Oh, that's a goose. I'm surprised to see kin all by kinself, since geese usually travel in groups.

and if you're wondering like i briefly did, the third person plural animate would probably remain "they/them" as that is the only current (standard) third person plural in english, human or inanimate (they are the painters we hired / they are my stuffed animals / they are called dandelions, etc.)

extremely cool!!!!

*** i also recognize that there are people use it/its pronouns as third person singular personal pronouns and they are animate but this post is only speaking in very broad strokes :3

[nb-stuff-blog]

I know this has been done before, and it’s probably been done beautifully, but I thought I’d just add in my own little contribution. I’ve included some historical pronouns, even some that are only recorded in their nominative form (so they can only be used to replace nouns; there is no possessive form). I know I’ve missed some, so I hope to come back and add onto this post as I go out and learn more. 

*For each third person pronoun, I’ve attempted to write some sentences using the pronouns as examples. If I’ve gotten them wrong, I apologise; let me know and I’ll correct them. And to clear up any possible confusion, here’s an example of the sentence structure with a binary set of common pronouns:

He always laughs at my funny faces, and I love his smile. I’ve been friends with him for years, and I love to see him enjoying himself.

A

Used as a pronoun in the fourteenth century, this pronoun, used in the way of she, he, they, it, and I, was included in the OED and Wright’s English Dialect Dictionary. [source]

Ou

From the fourteenth century again, used as a part of Middle English. This pronoun was also confirmed by both the OED and Wright’s English Dialect Dictionary. ‘Ou’ is used in the same way as ‘a’; replacing he, she, they, it, and I. [source]

Yo

A dialect of African American Vernacular English, originating from Baltimore, Maryland. ‘Yo’ was first coined around 2004 and was popular in use among a local high school. Possessive forms are unclear, so it’s assumed to be used the same way as the above. [source]

Third Person Pronouns

“Splat” Pronouns (*e, h*, h*s, and h*self)

Used in software and Internet resources in the 1990s, notably known for use in LambdaMOO. [source]

*e laughs when I tell h* a joke. Not only does *e love h*s selfies, *e also loves h*self.

Co (co, co, co’s, cos, coself)

Believed to have been created in 1970 by Mary Orovan, and derived from the Indo-European root form ko. [source]

Co is my best friend, and I am glad to know co. We always go to co’s house, because between our TVs, cos is the best. Co is always honest and kind to coself, and I admire that.

Spivak Pronouns (e, em, eir, eirs, emself)

One form of these pronouns that became popular in the 1990s, leading to an Internet life of use. [source]

E is a good student, and I delight in teaching em. Eir homework is always perfect, and sometimes my answer key work is eirs. I hope e is proud of emself.

E (es) (e, em, es)

A limited form with no recorded forms for use beyond the three recorded. Created in 1890 by James Rogers, of Crestview, Florida. 

I cry when e makes me laugh; I can never resist em! Es humour is the best.

Elverson Pronouns (ey, em, eir, eirs, emself)

Very similar to Spivak pronouns, Elverson pronouns were created in 1975 by Christine M. Elverson, and were popular in 2004. [source]

I can’t help it; ey is just so attractive. I have a huge crush on em… Eir hair is just so soft, and when I don’t have my phone charger, ey always lets me borrow eirs. I wonder if ey loves emself as much I love em…

It (it, it, its, its, itself)

Rather self-explanatory, but still considered offensive among some people, especially those in the trans community, as it’s often been used against them. There are, however, movements to reclaim ‘it’ pronouns and make them part of the community. 

Ne, nem (ne, nem, nir, nirs, nemself)

There are several forms of this pronouns. This one was possibly coined in 2013, thus being the most recent form, but it is based off the nominative “ne” pronouns from the mid-1800s (1850 or 1884). [source]

Ne is not my favourite person, but I don’t hold anything against nem. I’m just not a fan of nir attitude, and I think this argument is the fault of nirs. Ne really loves nemself.

Ne, ner (ne, ner, nis, nis, nemself)

This form was first mentioned in 1974, and then again in 1999. [source]

Ne melts when I hug ner, and when I brush nis hair. I have to borrow nis hairbrush though, because it’s the only one ne likes. Otherwise ne has to do it nemself.

One (one, one, one’s, one’s, oneself)

Already standard in formal English, many are already familiar with ‘one’ pronouns from writing formal essays. [source]

Yeah, one says you can see the stars for miles here. I’m never doubting one again. This place is one’s, and one’s telescope is amazing. No wonder one comes here by oneself all the time!

Per (per, per, per, pers, perself)

Possibly the shortened form of per(son), these pronouns were created in 1972. [source]

Per sings really well. I applauded per at per concert! This CD is pers; you should listen to it. I wish per could hear perself.

S/he (S/he, hir, hir, hirs, hirself)

Used in the 1970s. [source]

S/he (or s/He, or sHe) laughs a lot, and I love hir giggle. I try to make hir laugh a lot, because my favourite kind of giggle is hirs. S/he doesn’t appreciate hirself enough.

Singular They (they, them, theirs, themself)

Rather self-explanatory, and one of the most popular choices for those who choose to go by gender neutral pronouns. [source]

They read books whenever they can, because it’s one of their favourite hobbies. My own collection can’t even compare to theirs. They themselves admit they might read too much to be considered healthy for them.

Thon (thon, thon, thons, thon’s, thonself)

The contracted form of “that one”, ‘thon’ was proposed around 1858. [source]

Thon laughs when I tell thon a joke. Not only does thon love thons selfies, thon also loves thonself. My favourite picture is thon’s.

Ve (ve, ver, vis, vis, verself)

From around 1970. [source]

Ve is a good student, and I delight in teaching ver. Vis homework is always perfect, and sometimes my answer key is virs. I hope ve is proud of verself.

Xe, hir (xe, hir, hir, hirs, hirself)

This pronoun set has been used on the Internet since the 1990s. [source]

Xe laughs. I hug hir. Hir hair is beautiful. I borrow the brush that is hirs. Xe loves hirself.

Xe, xir (xe, xir, xir, xirs, xirself)

I can’t help it; xe is just so attractive. I have a huge crush on xir… Xir hair is just so soft, and when I don’t have my phone charger, xe always lets me borrow xirs. I wonder if xe loves xirself as much I love xir… [source]

Xe, xyr (xe, xyr/xem, xyr, xyrs, xyrself)

Coined in 1993. [source]

Xe is my best friend, and I am glad to know xyr (or xem). We always go to xyr house, because between our TVs, xyrs is the best. Xe is always honest and kind to xyrself, and I admire that.

Ze, hir (ze, hir, hir, hirs, hirself)

Modified into existence around 2006. [source]

Ze is not my favourite person, but I don’t hold anything against hir. I’m just not a fan of hir attitude, and I think this argument is the fault of hirs. Ze really loves hirself.

Zie (zie, zir/zim, zir, zirs, zirself)

Coined roughly around 2000. [source]

Zie melts when I hug zir (or zim), and when I brush zir hair. I have to borrow zirs hairbrush though, because it’s the only one zie likes. Otherwise zie has to do it zirself.