Pronominal disagreements: The stubborn problem of singular epicene antecedents

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study examines how speakers on certain TV interview programs resolve problems of agreement with formally singular epicene antecedents. The form most frequently used isthey, althoughhedoes appear fairly often. Some forms found in written English hardly occur. It appears thattheyis not used simply to avoid a commitment to gender. Rather, three factors appear to contribute to speakers' choice of pronominal: presuppositions about gender roles associated with the referent, notional number of the referent, and the extent to which the referent can be posited as a specific individual. The idea that there is a gap in third person singular pronouns in spoken English is criticized. (Pronominal gender, agreement, semantics, usage, English)