Pronouns

[jack]

"When John was a woman, [he/she/they] said '...' " Which pronoun do you prefer? (That is, "he" is appropriate for John now, "she" would be appropriate for what John was then, and "they" would specify the ambiguity.)

"The things God or Jesus [was/were] recorded as saying are ..." Which pronoun do you prefer? (That is, do you treat them as two separate people (were)? Or one person (was)? :))

Obviously both are arbitrary, and I think both sufficiently specialised that most people wouldn't mind which you used, I just wondered if anyone had a strong opinion :)

Comments

[ravingglory.livejournal.com]

I have friend who is an androgen, who likes the alternating pronouns, ze, and hir also work for hir. I find both difficult in conversation. (When typing its ok to pause to think of the right pronoun thank goodness.)

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to use zie for other people, though I do not like it at all myself - I am a singular "they" in all cases where my gender is not directly relevant, which is everything except with medical professionals and some (but not all) of my partners. "Hir" I just can't seem to make come out unambiguously clearly when spoken, though.

[ravingglory.livejournal.com]

I have the same trouble with Hir. There are few constructions of singular they that sound a bit off to my ear, but its still easier to decline then zie.