Pronouns

When you live in a world where gender is a fashion decision, pronouns are a little strange. For the most part, we seem to prefer more-traditional pronouns. But we're aware of a lot of options.

If you're ever in doubt, it's probably best to go with what's in the description, or use one of the ambiguous pronouns, depending on the situation. These are the ones in common use about Puzzlebox, as observed by this writer.

Given in the order of subject (she laughs), object (you laugh with her), possessive adjective (her laughter), possessive pronoun (the laugh you hear is hers), reflexive (she laughs at herself). Most non-traditional pronouns in English conjugate similarly to 'she'.

she, her, her, hers, herself

Traditional female.

he, him, his, his, himself

Traditional male

it, it, its, its, itself

Non-gendered. Some see a measure of objectification in this.

they, them, their, theirs, themself

Non-gendered. The use of "they" as a third-person singular is still grammatically correct, but it fell out of favor in the 20th century (when, oddly enough, gender-neutral pronouns became more necessary). Very appropriate for Victorians and pedantics.

sie, hir, hir, hirs, hirself

Hermaphrodite; male-and-female at once. Strong associations with exaggerated female and male sexual characteristics. Sie jumps over hir own tail.

zie, zir, zir, zirs, zirself

neuter, hermaphrodite, ambiguous, or "other".

xe, xer, xer, xers, xerself (or sometimes xirself)

Neuter, or hermaphrodite, may be ambiguous. Also xe/xir/xir/xirs/xirself. Xe looks at xer hand like xe's never seen it before.

(Actually, I think XOR uses this one to describe xirself. :) It could very easily have prior uses, though. -- OR) (Yes, xe does; xe's why I put it in! -Twin)

qe, qir, qir, qirs, qirself

The "quantum indeterminate" pronoun. Sometimes loosely used like zie or xe. Used more precisely to describe an entity whose gender is in unpredictable flux. Qer receptors curl up as qe laughs.

(This one I know XOR and I coined. :) -- OR)

*

Ambiguous/none. * slowly blinks *r eyes.

o/~

Musicbox. A "mood-moderator" gender with two larynxes. Ask Carousel? for details. o/` whistles a lilting air, o/~r tail aswish. Variant spelling: o/"

Bracketing a "traditional" pronoun is also seen - Twin uses (she) to suggest neuter body with female social aspect.

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