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this post was submitted on 28 Mar 2024
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But “it” is for inanimate objects. “They” is a gender neutral pronoun for living creatures.
Not quite. "It" is a general reference pronoun with a function akin to "the". It can be used to refer to anything that is a thing, even if said thing is animate and/or living.
When referring indiscriminately to a specimen of fauna, "it" is a linguistically appropriate identifier whereas "they" would only really be entirely appropriate when referring to an individual or subset of individuals, regardless of species or animacy.
Since this fish has no distinguishable identity apart from the cultural impact it may spawn, I reckon it's more appropriate to use "it" but "they" could also work.
I am not a linguist. But if you are, feel free to correct me. If you feel like pretending to be a linguist, go talk to an LLM cause IDC.
If you wouldn't call a human being "it", then you shouldn't call a non-human animal "it", either.
yeah no I'm not taking that bait, bud.
I'll call human beings "it" if that's what they prefer!
Funnily enough, in spoken Finnish "it" has all but replaced "they".
I mean, it’s English. The “rules” work sometimes and sometimes they don’t. But we’re taught that they exist, and then told “well, in that case that rule doesn’t apply.”
So neither of us is technically right, at least not in every case. But, generally, if I were teaching someone English, I would tell them, most of the time, “they” is for animate objects, “it” for inanimate—when we’re discussing a singular object or subject. Does it apply every time? No, and that’s still a loose rule. Some people call an animal “it,” but that is a little outmoded.
No, I’m not a linguist either. We’re just two unqualified assholes talking on the internet.
Ok but you're second paragraph raises a new issue, or moreso an angle to what I was originally being pessimistic of: is that really adequate linguistic knowledge to impart on the future generation?
I wasn't taught they for animate, it for inanimate, or at least not that I recall. Maybe for a young child it could serve as a good rule of thumb to be reshaped in school. But besides that, I feel like it would cause more confusion for a non-native English speaker trying to learn the language if you shared that knowledge with them and then they in turn sublimate it into their personal linguist theory for some indeterminate amount of time. Then it could cause language barriers and potentially lead native English speakers to think less of them for their lack of grasp on what we call our stupid language where the rules are made up and the points don't matter.
Then again, I can't immediately conjure any examples of where this linguistic confusion may occur in this hypothetical English learner's day-to-day life. But I personally wouldn't be comfortable dispensing to a learner some less-than-entirely accurate disambiguation about our language, especially if I had reason to believe they could end up blindly parroting it.
This kinda worries me because I don't want to imagine immigrants and future generations alike being conditioned to ignore nuances in dialogue due to ambiguity introduced by some quixotic lesson they received under the notion it was "good enough".
Also, I hope you don't mistake me for trying to argue, I simply enjoy the banter as that concern I shared is a very intriguing thought to me, and I appreciate your willingness to "debate"/discuss it. Otherwise: so true, the Internet was of course originally made so assholes could argue semantics, among optionally more productive things.
A point I want to raise is that if someone is gonna think less of a foreigner bc they use English slightly differently then well it was never the difference in the use of English, it was them being a foreigner.
Also the more you learn a language the more nuance you understand and use, even if that scenario would result of them not noticing the nuance they will eventually learn it
Yes but consider that not everyone is fortunate enough to grow up in diverse environments with exposure to other cultures. If everyone you've ever met from 0-18 is a redneck, how ya think they'll react to x accent. That's unfortunately your floor for expectable initial reactions from mutually non-impressed peoples. I'm not psychologist, figure you aren't either, but there is some principle that elaborates on this, keywords probably akin to cultural exposure in child development, environmental conditioning, and ventures out into other related principles. But idfk what I'm talking about, take this as the ramblings of a madman or whatever.
English is my second language but I learned that "it" was the pronoun used for inanimate objects and animals whose name/sex you don't know yet.
Having a different pronoun for non-human animals reinforces the belief that we're separate from other animals.
Which we are, so that's fine. It's fine to have your opinion, but to assume it is so universal as to be part of the rules of grammar is a bridge too far.
I'm not taking about the rules of grammar.
Actually you were, and everyone replied accordingly.
You seem confused
I was taking about how the language we use reinforces belief structures. It's like saying "illegal aliens" vs. "undocumented workers". Both are valid grammatically, but your choice of terms indicates your biases.
I think if you view non-human animals as conscious beings, you're more likely to call them "they" instead of "it".
Except that you are the one with biases here, you are the one who replied to someone who was clearly talking/asking about grammar rules and you did it with a weird twist around (your?) belief structures .
It's an interesting take but one that maybe you need to explain and not give for granted that everyone knows what is going on in your head. Also you just did then same yourself with non human animals, same as illegal aliens mate.
What? No. It's disrespectful to call any animal, Homo or not, "it". Sexual creatures of unknown gender are "they". Always.
Both are acceptable. Always keep in mind that the American educational system has been under attack for sixty years.
I thought it was also used for animals? The dog is running = it is running, and so on?
I mean, other people are saying this, but maybe this is an animal lover thing. Calling a dog “it” makes it seem like you don’t care about or like the animal.
It’s something someone who beats their dog would say, you know what I mean? “Put that thing outside. It pooped on the rug.” Or “can you bring them outside? I’m allergic.” It’s like a respect for living creatures thing. This is just my sense. There are plenty of people who call animals “it.” I just think it sounds…shitty. I dunno. When I’m on a dating app and I see someone has a dog, I don’t say, “what’s its name?” I say, “what’s their name?”
Just recalling how I was taught all the way back in the early 2000s, not in 'murica. 🤷♂️
except babies.