英语中性第三人称单数代词

摘要

正 语言学家早就注意到这一现象:英语中缺一个中性第三人称单数代词。传统语法历来主张用he(his, him)来指代性别不明的单数第三人称先行项。例如: (1)Everyone thinks he has the answer。 (R.Quirk) (2)Each child will find his own personal road to success. (M.Swan) (3)Every person brought his lunch with him. (F.T. Wood) 1850年,英国议会立法:he在法案语盲中也可用于指代女性。可见,用he来指代第三人称中性先行项不仅出于传统,也得到过法律的保护。