The versatility of pronouns and shifting identity
Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 14:01
in Psychology & Sociology
A new scientific study reveals the fascinating ways in which we use pronouns to negotiate social identity. While much of the recent popular discussion on the topic of pronouns and social identity has focused on how third person pronouns in English (she/he and his/her vs. they) establish fixed gender identities, this study focuses on how second person (you) pronouns in Spanish can be used to communicate shifts in a range of different social identities. The study, "Linguistic reference in the negotiation of identity and action: Revisiting the T/V distinction", by Chase Wesley Raymond at the University of Colorado, Boulder, was published in the September, 2016 issue of the scholarly journal Language.