Comments on: No wonder the English language is doomed http://www.obscurebox.com/2009/04/22/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-doomed/ Thoughts from inside the obscure box Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:05:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Cassie Tuttle http://www.obscurebox.com/2009/04/22/no-wonder-the-english-language-is-doomed/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Cassie Tuttle Sat, 30 May 2009 01:32:42 +0000 http://www.obscurebox.com/?p=391#comment-17 “In recent decades the Vatican has tried to undo their mistake.” While I don't promote the use of "their" as a singular pronoun, The Language Guy is correct. <i>"Linguists tend not to side with language dictators, rather letting language change proceed without interference. Practically everyone now uses “their” this way."</i> Many linguists these days are descriptivists; prescriptivists seem to be in the minority. As a former grammar snob myself, who has studied linguistics, I've learned to be more forgiving when it comes to others' use of the English language. More important, I accept that language is a living thing that is evolving all the time. And there's nothing we can do to stop it. Loosen up a little. :-) We're not doomed, just changing. “In recent decades the Vatican has tried to undo their mistake.”

While I don't promote the use of "their" as a singular pronoun, The Language Guy is correct.

"Linguists tend not to side with language dictators, rather letting language change proceed without interference. Practically everyone now uses “their” this way."

Many linguists these days are descriptivists; prescriptivists seem to be in the minority. As a former grammar snob myself, who has studied linguistics, I've learned to be more forgiving when it comes to others' use of the English language. More important, I accept that language is a living thing that is evolving all the time. And there's nothing we can do to stop it.

Loosen up a little. :-)
We're not doomed, just changing.

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