Other: Gender-neutral pronouns

[ozdust]

If I had to guess, I'd bet on "they" becoming the default for everyone, just because it seems to already be happening that way. But there is precedent for neologisms -- "Ms." is well established.

 
This reminds me of something I was wondering recently.... If we refer to someone as him, he'd usually be called Mr. Brown (unless otherwise specified). So if someone was referred to as they, we'd formally address them as __ Brown?

[ozdust]

"Well established", but not necessarily in wide-spread use. I routinely get "Mrs." instead of "Ms."; personally I get a tad offended by the assumption that a woman over a (visual perception of a) certain age has to be married.

(End rant.) Okay, I'll stop going off tangent now.

 
I get this a lot, as well as 'What's your husband do for work' or 'is your husband available' etc... I have been with my partner Adam for a while and have known him since I was 9, but just because I am a certain age does not mean I'm married.
I use Ms. and had someone say to me while registering for something "are you divorced? you can't use Ms." I was in the middle of a store or else he would have received some education.
Ass!
(end rant)

[Scales]

This reminds me of something I was wondering recently.... If we refer to someone as him, he'd usually be called Mr. Brown (unless otherwise specified). So if someone was referred to as they, we'd formally address them as __ Brown?

Mx. seems to be becoming widespread

[Morag]

This reminds me of something I was wondering recently.... If we refer to someone as him, he'd usually be called Mr. Brown (unless otherwise specified). So if someone was referred to as they, we'd formally address them as __ Brown?

 
Here is a list of gender-neutral titles, though it's not exhaustive.

(Personally I prefer Mz., which is not listed. I don't know if any other enby people even use it; haven't come across any.)

[HarpingHawke]

Mx. seems to be becoming widespread

 
Does anyone know how to *pronounce* that? I'd love to use it, but if I can't pronounce it, it's out.

[Castus]

Does anyone know how to *pronounce* that? I'd love to use it, but if I can't pronounce it, it's out.

Wiki seems to suggest "mix" or "mux".

[Morag]

Does anyone know how to *pronounce* that? I'd love to use it, but if I can't pronounce it, it's out.

 
From the non-binary wiki:

There are several different pronunciations of Mx, including muks (IPA: məks or mʌks), mix, em ex, mixter,[14], or mixture.[15] A 2014 survey of 118 people found the most popular pronunciations in the UK was "məks" (by 43%), and worldwide was "mix" (42%).

[HarpingHawke]

Wiki seems to suggest "mix" or "mux".

 

From the non-binary wiki:

 
Thanks guys!

[ozdust]

Mx. seems to be becoming widespread

Good to know!
 

Here is a list of gender-neutral titles, though it's not exhaustive.

(Personally I prefer Mz., which is not listed. I don't know if any other enby people even use it; haven't come across any.)

Thanks for the link, I'll enjoy looking at this wiki

[SunflowerP]

Does anyone know how to *pronounce* that? I'd love to use it, but if I can't pronounce it, it's out.

 
About like 'Ms', but with the usual 'x' sound of 'ks', instead of just 's'. I've seen this described as 'mix' or 'mux', which is accurate enough, but I feel the former tends to play into the pseudohistory about its origin, that it's short for 'mixture'. It's not, it's just the 'M' of common Engish-language honorifics followed by a wild-card 'x' - it could have been M*, but that, of course, is even more difficult for people trying to suss out pronunciation.

Sunflower

[SunflowerP]

About like 'Ms', but with the usual 'x' sound of 'ks', instead of just 's'. I've seen this described as 'mix' or 'mux', which is accurate enough, but I feel the former tends to play into the pseudohistory about its origin, that it's short for 'mixture'. It's not, it's just the 'M' of common Engish-language honorifics followed by a wild-card 'x' - it could have been M*, but that, of course, is even more difficult for people trying to suss out pronunciation.

 
... And this is why I cultivate the habit of reading to the end of a thread before replying to any posts; when I fail to do so, inevitably it will be one of the times I should have.

Sunflower

[Juniperberry]

About like 'Ms', but with the usual 'x' sound of 'ks', instead of just 's'. I've seen this described as 'mix' or 'mux', which is accurate enough, but I feel the former tends to play into the pseudohistory about its origin, that it's short for 'mixture'. It's not, it's just the 'M' of common Engish-language honorifics followed by a wild-card 'x' - it could have been M*, but that, of course, is even more difficult for people trying to suss out pronunciation.

Sunflower

I'm probably about to say something offensive and ignorant, but why not 'person'?

"Could I speak to Person Jones please?"

Or

"Dear Prs. Jones, it is my pleasure to inform you that Prs. Smith..."
 
Seems a good substitute to me, with clearer linguistics then Mux/Mix?

[Morag]

I'm probably about to say something offensive and ignorant, but why not 'person'?

"Could I speak to Person Jones please?"

Or

"Dear Prs. Jones, it is my pleasure to inform you that Prs. Smith..."
 
Seems a good substitute to me, with clearer linguistics then Mux/Mix?

 
Pr is actually listed on the link I provided upthread.

There is also Ind, which is short for individual.

[Morag]

... And this is why I cultivate the habit of reading to the end of a thread before replying to any posts; when I fail to do so, inevitably it will be one of the times I should have.

Sunflower

 
Actually your more in-depth explanation made it clear to me that Mx being short for mixture was incorrect. The wiki does refer to x being a wildcard but it doesn't clarify any further than that; words can have multiple origins sometimes and I wasn't entirely sure that Mx wasn't also short for mixture.

[SunflowerP]

Actually your more in-depth explanation made it clear to me that Mx being short for mixture was incorrect. The wiki does refer to x being a wildcard but it doesn't clarify any further than that; words can have multiple origins sometimes and I wasn't entirely sure that Mx wasn't also short for mixture.

 
The long version.

Practical Androgyny is a sister site to Nonbinary.org; it's not uncommon for things mentioned in the latter's Wiki to be addressed in a much more in-depth and nuanced way on the former.

Sunflower