Non-sexist language reform and generic pronouns in Australian English

Pauwels, Anne

doi:10.1075/eww.22.1.06pau

Article published In: English World-Wide
Vol. 22:1 (2001) ► pp.105–119

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Non-sexist language reform and generic pronouns in Australian English

Anne Pauwels | University Western Australia

Published online: 27 June 2001

https://doi.org/10.1075/eww.22.1.06pau

This paper explores changes in the use of generic pronouns in Australian English. We examine a database of public non-scripted speech to establish to what extent generic pronouns promoted through non-sexist language reform have become part of public speech. The results show that the use of masculine generic he has decreased substantially mainly in favour of singular they. The pronoun he or she does not appear to have been adopted widely by people speaking in a public context.

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