These little guys can chew their way through a crab’s shell. Don’t put your fingers near the business end.
It is a gender neutral pronoun.
Also when talking about people, it would be nice if they was a lot more normalized even in situations where the gender of the person is known.
But “it” is for inanimate objects. “They” is a gender neutral pronoun for living creatures.
But “it” is for inanimate objects
Not quite. “It” is a general reference pronoun with a function akin to “the”. It can be used to refer to anything that is a thing, even if said thing is animate and/or living.
When referring indiscriminately to a specimen of fauna, “it” is a linguistically appropriate identifier whereas “they” would only really be entirely appropriate when referring to an individual or subset of individuals, regardless of species or animacy.
Since this fish has no distinguishable identity apart from the cultural impact it may spawn, I reckon it’s more appropriate to use “it” but “they” could also work.
I am not a linguist. But if you are, feel free to correct me. If you feel like pretending to be a linguist, go talk to an LLM cause IDC.
If you wouldn’t call a human being “it”, then you shouldn’t call a non-human animal “it”, either.
I mean, it’s English. The “rules” work sometimes and sometimes they don’t. But we’re taught that they exist, and then told “well, in that case that rule doesn’t apply.”
So neither of us is technically right, at least not in every case. But, generally, if I were teaching someone English, I would tell them, most of the time, “they” is for animate objects, “it” for inanimate—when we’re discussing a singular object or subject. Does it apply every time? No, and that’s still a loose rule. Some people call an animal “it,” but that is a little outmoded.
No, I’m not a linguist either. We’re just two unqualified assholes talking on the internet.
English is my second language but I learned that “it” was the pronoun used for inanimate objects and animals whose name/sex you don’t know yet.
Having a different pronoun for non-human animals reinforces the belief that we’re separate from other animals.
I thought it was also used for animals? The dog is running = it is running, and so on?
I mean, other people are saying this, but maybe this is an animal lover thing. Calling a dog “it” makes it seem like you don’t care about or like the animal.
It’s something someone who beats their dog would say, you know what I mean? “Put that thing outside. It pooped on the rug.” Or “can you bring them outside? I’m allergic.” It’s like a respect for living creatures thing. This is just my sense. There are plenty of people who call animals “it.” I just think it sounds…shitty. I dunno. When I’m on a dating app and I see someone has a dog, I don’t say, “what’s its name?” I say, “what’s their name?”
Also when talking about people, it would be nice if they was a lot more normalized even in situations where the gender of the person is known.
Please!! As an enby person, I get so tired of reading “he/she.” Just say “they!” It means the same thing while including people who don’t identify as either.
You can just use “they”. That’s what it’s for.
are you not afraid to misgender a fish?
i always feel terrible when i misgender animals so yes
