초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This article is concerned with the so-called ‘generic’ or ‘epicene’ pronoun he and its alternative usages. Especially, an analysis was done to see if there is any change in the attitudes toward this sex-biased English pronominal convention, what alternative usages have been proposed, which ones are actually employed by native English speakers, and what the preference among the alternatives is. The analysis was carried out in two ways; one was to review the descriptions of the topic in English handbooks and grammar books, and the other was to take a test for the actual usages by native English speakers. Through the analysis, it was found that the ‘generic’ he cannot be tolerated any more and should be avoided. The singular they was proved to be the best recommended alternative and the he or she form was the next preferred alternative. In particular, the use of the singular they was found to be influenced by structural factors. For example, it was preferred when the antecedent was an indefinite pronoun, or when it appears in an independent clause from the antecedent.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
gender, sex, generic pronoun, singular they, he or she
