The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has conducted a new study showing that people are using “they/them” pronouns more frequently. The research paper, led by UNC-Chapel Hill researcher Jennifer E. Arnold, Ph.D., was published in Glossa Psycholinguistics on April 14. This study is the first to provide evidence of how people use “they/them” when referring to a specific person in spoken storytelling. Over the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of ‘they’ as a personal pronoun, which may be due to greater awareness and acceptance of non-binary gender identities.Arnold, a psychology and neuroscience professor at UNC College of Arts and Sciences, stated that the use of non-binary “they” is a new and not fully understood change in the language. This project focuses on the ongoing change in the English language regarding pronouns. Throughout history, “they” has been used as a singular pronoun in non-specific contexts. The study’s results reveal that college-aged speakers are adept at using nonbinary “they” in a correct manner.Conditions are now being observed as using binary “she” and “he” pronouns with no less frequency. This discovery demonstrates that the same cognitive process applies to the selection of pronouns and names for both binary and nonbinary pronouns, indicating that the new usage is being integrated into the existing pronoun system.
No previous study has presented data on how individuals naturally utilize this form in a spoken storytelling context. These findings will aid in understanding how the language is evolving and in comprehending the natural process of acquiring proficiency with this new form.
Current teaching materials may not acknowledge this form, but considering that you
According to Arnold, the use of nonbinary pronouns such as “they” is becoming increasingly common among young people, and should be considered in education.
