Pronouns

Pronoun work is a key area in IEMT when working with issues of identity.

Pronouns are words that are used in place of a noun or noun phrase. In linguistics, pronouns are classified based on the person, number, gender, and case of the noun they replace. Here are some examples of pronouns in English, along with their corresponding classifications:

• Person: First person (I, we), second person (you), third person (he, she, it, they)
• Number: Singular (I, you, he, she, it), plural (we, you, they)
• Gender: Masculine (he, him), feminine (she, her), neuter (it)
• Case: Subjective (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), objective (me, you, him, her, it, us, them), possessive (mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs)

Here are some examples of how these pronouns can be used in sentences:

• First person singular: I am going to the store.
• Second person singular: You are going to the store.
• Third person singular masculine: He is going to the store.
• Third person singular feminine: She is going to the store.
• Third person singular neuter: It is going to the store.
• First person plural: We are going to the store.
• Second person plural: You are going to the store.
• Third person plural: They are going to the store.

It's worth noting that some languages have more complex systems of pronouns, with more distinctions based on person, number, gender, and case. Additionally, some languages, such as gender-neutral languages, do not have gender-specific pronouns.

Reflexive pronouns are used to refer back to the subject of a clause or sentence and include words such as “myself,” “yourself,” “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” and “themselves.”

Here are some examples of reflexive pronouns:

• I hurt myself while I was playing soccer. (Reflects back to the subject “I”)
• You can do it yourself. (Reflects back to the subject “you”)
• He washed himself before going to bed. (Reflects back to the subject “he”)
• She cut herself while chopping vegetables. (Reflects back to the subject “she”)
• It broke itself when it fell off the table. (Reflects back to the subject “it”)
• We did it ourselves. (Reflects back to the subject “we”)
• They helped themselves to some food. (Reflects back to the subject “they”)

Relative pronouns are used to introduce clauses that modify nouns or pronouns and include words such as “who,” “whom,” “whose,” “that,” and “which.”

Here are some examples of relative pronouns:

• The woman who lives next door is very nice. (Modifies the noun “woman”)
• The man whom I met at the store was very helpful. (Modifies the noun “man”)
• The cat whose tail was injured has recovered. (Modifies the noun “cat”)
• The book that I read was very interesting. (Modifies the noun “book”)
• The car which I bought was very expensive. (Modifies the noun “car”)

Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people, places, things, or ideas and include words such as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.”

Possessive pronouns:

• That book is mine. (first person singular)
• Is this pen yours? (second person singular or plural)
• His car is very fast. (third person singular masculine)
• Hers is a little older. (third person singular feminine)
• Its paws are very soft. (third person singular, used for animals, objects, or abstract concepts)
• Our house is the one with the red roof. (first person plural)
• Their dog is very friendly. (third person plural)

Honorifics are words or forms of address that are used to show respect or deference to someone, typically in the context of a language's grammatical system. Honorifics can be used in place of a person's name or title, and they can convey a range of meanings, from simple politeness to deep respect or reverence.

In many languages, honorifics are expressed through different verb forms, nouns, or titles that are used to address or refer to someone. For example, in Japanese, there are several levels of honorifics, including:

• “San,” a general honorific used for people of equal or lower status
• “Sama,” a more formal honorific used for people of higher status or for a customer in a store
• “Dono,” a very formal honorific used for people of very high status, such as a noble or a royalty
• In English, honorifics are less commonly used, but they can still be found in certain situations, such as when addressing someone with a title, such as “Dr.” or “Professor,” or when using terms of address, such as “Sir” or “Madam.”

Here are some examples of how honorifics might be used in different languages:

• Japanese: “Sumimasen, Tanaka-san, doko desu ka?” (Excuse me, Mr. Tanaka, where are you?)
• Korean: “Annyeong haseyo, Choe-ssi.” (Hello, Mr. Choe.)
• French: “Bonjour, Monsieur Dupont.” (Hello, Mr. Dupont.)
• English: “Good morning, Dr. Smith.” (Good morning, Dr. Smith.)

Non-binary people are individuals who do not identify as exclusively male or female, and may instead identify as a gender that is outside of the gender binary (male/female). Many non-binary people use pronouns that reflect their gender identity, rather than the pronouns traditionally associated with the sex assigned to them at birth (e.g., “he” and “she”).

There are a number of pronouns that non-binary people may use to refer to themselves, including:

• They/them/their: These pronouns are often used by non-binary people who do not feel that “he” or “she” accurately reflect their gender identity. They are also commonly used as gender-neutral singular pronouns in English. For example: “I'm going to the store. Can you come with me, because I don't want to go alone? They're going to be there, too.”

• Ze/hir/hirs: These pronouns are often used by non-binary people who do not feel that “he” or “she” accurately reflect their gender identity. They are also commonly used as gender-neutral singular pronouns in English. For example: “I'm going to the store. Can you come with me, because I don't want to go alone? Ze's going to be there, too.”

• Xe/xem/xyr: These pronouns are often used by non-binary people who do not feel that “he” or “she” accurately reflect their gender identity. They are also commonly used as gender-neutral singular pronouns in English. For example: “I'm going to the store. Can you come with me, because I don't want to go alone? Xe's going to be there, too.”

“The Secret Life of Pronouns” is a book by James W. Pennebaker that explores the role of pronouns in language and how they can reveal insights into people's thoughts, feelings, and relationships.

In the book, Pennebaker argues that pronouns are more than just simple words that we use to refer to ourselves and others; they are also indicators of our social relationships and emotional states. By analyzing the use of pronouns in written or spoken language, it is possible to gain insight into a person's personality, emotions, and social connections.

Here are a few quotes from the book that provide a sense of its main arguments:

• “Pronouns are a window into the self.”

• “The pronouns people use reflect their sense of self and their social relationships.”

• “Pronouns can reveal how we think about ourselves and others, how we view the world, and how we feel about ourselves and those around us.”

One example of how pronouns can reveal insights into people's thoughts and feelings comes from Pennebaker's analysis of the language used by U.S. presidents in their inaugural addresses. He found that presidents who used more first-person singular pronouns (e.g., “I,” “me,” “my”) tended to be more successful in office, while those who used more first-person plural pronouns (e.g., “we,” “us,” “our”) were less successful. This suggests that the use of first-person singular pronouns may be associated with a sense of confidence and self-assurance, while the use of first-person plural pronouns may be associated with a desire to build consensus or seek support from others.

Overall, “The Secret Life of Pronouns” is a fascinating exploration of the role of pronouns in language and how they can provide insights into the thoughts, feelings, and relationships of the people who use them.