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The grammatical category of gender in Modern English - Coggle Diagram
The grammatical category of gender in Modern English
Gender in Modern English
Gender in Language: Traditionally, languages classify nouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter. However, Modern English has largely lost gender distinctions for nouns.
Remnants of Gender: Some gender-specific terms persist, but they are more a matter of convention than strict grammar.
Personal Pronouns
Singular Pronouns:
He: Referring to males.
Example: He is my brother.
She: Referring to females.
Example: She is my sister.
They: Gender-neutral singular pronoun, used when gender is unknown or irrelevant.
Example: Alex is my friend. They are a doctor.
Possessive Pronouns
His, Her, Their: Indicating possession based on the gender of the possessor.
Example: This is his book.
Example: I met her friend.
Example: These are their shoes.
Titles and Honorifics
Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss: Traditional gender-specific titles.
Example: Mr. Smith will see you now.
Example: Miss Johnson is our new teacher.
Mx.: Gender-neutral title used when the gender of the person is unknown or when the individual prefers not to disclose their gender.
Occupational Terms
Actor/Actress: Traditionally, 'actor' was used for both genders, but 'actress' emerged for females. However, many now use 'actor' for both genders.
Example: She is an actor in the movie.
Gender-Neutral Terms: Many occupations now use gender-neutral terms, like 'firefighter' instead of 'fireman' or 'police officer' instead of 'policeman.'
Inclusive Language and Gender Neutrality
Singular 'They': Increasingly accepted as a gender-neutral pronoun for singular individuals.
Example: Sam is my friend. They are a doctor.
Gender-Neutral Language Movements: Encourage using inclusive terms to acknowledge diverse gender identities.
Example: Parent instead of mother or father.