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Oxford English Dictionary Adds Gender Neutral Terms

By Akinwale Akinyoade
20 March 2019   |   1:30 pm
In a bid to help people better discuss sensitive topics, the Oxford English Dictionary has introduced gender-neutral words. According to editors, the latest additions were an ‘attempt to grapple’ with the sensitive topic. These include ‘hir’ and zir’ as alternative pronouns to him, his or her, ‘peoplekind’ rather than mankind, and ‘Latin@’ as a gender-neutral…

In a bid to help people better discuss sensitive topics, the Oxford English Dictionary has introduced gender-neutral words.

According to editors, the latest additions were an ‘attempt to grapple’ with the sensitive topic.

These include ‘hir’ and zir’ as alternative pronouns to him, his or her, ‘peoplekind’ rather than mankind, and ‘Latin@’ as a gender-neutral term for someone of either sex from Latin America.

Meanwhile, the verb ‘misgender’ could apply to anyone who unwittingly or intentionally uses a pronoun that is not preferred by the person.

Also among the 650 updates were less politically-correct dog cross-breed terms, including puggle (a cross between a pug and a beagle) and a dorgi (a dachshund/corgi mix).

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