The History of English Podcast: Episode 54 – "Pronoun Pros and Cons"

Host: Kevin Stroud
Release Date: December 13, 2014
Title: Pronoun Pros and Cons
Description: The Spoken History of a Global Language

Overview

In Episode 54 of The History of English Podcast, host Kevin Stroud delves into the intricate history and evolution of English pronouns. Titled "Pronoun Pros and Cons," this episode explores the origins, transformations, and modern challenges surrounding personal pronouns such as "I," "you," and "they." Stroud meticulously traces these changes from Old English influences, including Viking borrowings, to the impact of Norse language and later French influences post-Norman Conquest. He also examines the complexities that arise from maintaining Old English grammatical structures within a modern framework, further complicated by Latin-based grammatical rules.

The Frequency and Importance of Pronouns in English

Kevin Stroud begins by emphasizing the critical role pronouns play in the English language. Highlighting their ubiquity, he states:

"[Pronouns] are among the most commonly used words in the English language. In one of the early episodes of the podcast, I mentioned some of those commonly used words... the 10 most commonly used words in the English language, half of them are pronouns... the word I." [00:09]

Pronouns like "he," "it," "that," "you," and "I" dominate everyday conversation, constituting 14 of the top 50 most frequently used English words. This prevalence underscores their importance in language acquisition and daily communication.

First Person Pronouns: I, Me, We, Us

Stroud explores the resilience of first-person pronouns, noting their minimal change over centuries:

"Our modern first person pronouns actually show the least amount of change over the centuries." [Transcript segment]

• Subject/Form: "I" (from Old English "ic")
• Object/Form: "Me" (from Old English "me")
• Possessive/Form: "My," "Mine" (evolved from Old English "mean")
• Plural Forms: "We," "Us," "Our" (directly inherited from Old English)

These pronouns have maintained their fundamental forms, with only minor phonetic shifts due to the Great Vowel Shift in the 1500s.

Second Person Pronouns: You, Your

The evolution of second-person pronouns reveals significant simplification:

"The evolution of you is a good example of how Modern English has simplified that Old English inflectional system." [Transcript segment]

Originally, Old English distinguished between singular and plural forms, as well as subject and object cases:

• Singular Forms: "Thou" (subject), "Thee" (object), "Thy/Thine" (possessive)
• Plural Forms: "Ye" (subject), "You" (object), "Your" (possessive)

The influx of Old Norse and later French influences post-1066 led to the collapse of these distinct forms into a single versatile "you," used universally for both singular and plural, subject and object cases. This simplification was further reinforced by the societal shifts following the Norman Conquest, where "you" became a polite and formal address, eventually overshadowing the informal "thou" forms.

"You became the great equalizer in the social uncertainty of the late Middle ages." [Transcript segment]

Third Person Pronouns: He, She, It, They

Third-person pronouns present a more complex evolution:

"The third person pronouns, English kept some, it changed the pronunciation of some, it got rid of some, it borrowed some from the Vikings, and it even made up a new one." [Transcript segment]

Origins and Changes:

• He/Him/His: Retained the initial "h" from Old English.
• She/Her/Hers: Emerged as a distinct form to resolve ambiguity, possibly derived from the Old English definite article "seo."
• It/Its: Developed from the neutral Old English "hit."
• They/Them/Their: Borrowed from Old Norse, introducing "th" beginnings distinct from the Old English "h" forms.

The Old English third-person pronouns were initially similar, leading to confusion. The introduction of Norse forms in the north of England provided the distinct "th" sounds necessary for clarity, which gradually spread and replaced the older "h" forms.

"Chaucer's usage is consistent with other texts from the same period... the 'thees' and 'thous' are still known to us today as older forms of the pronoun." [Transcript segment]

Pronoun Simplifications and Regional Variations

Stroud discusses regional innovations and how they attempted to address the limitations of "you" in modern English. New forms like "y'all," "you guys," "youse," and others emerged organically within various dialects to differentiate singular from plural "you." Despite their prevalence in regional speech, standard English grammar adheres to the singular "you" for both cases, leaving the door open for these regional forms to potentially become standardized in the future.

"Linguists have actually studied this trend in the United States, and they have found that you all is increasingly used outside of the south, and you guys is increasingly used within the South." [Transcript segment]

Modern Grammar Challenges with Pronouns

The mix of Old English pronoun forms with Modern English syntax leads to common grammatical confusions:

• Subject vs. Object Forms: Deciding between "I" vs. "me," "we" vs. "us," etc.
• Compound Structures: Challenges arise in phrases like "you and I" vs. "you and me."

Stroud explains that while English has largely shifted towards a fixed word order relying on syntactic structure, pronouns retain their Old English inflectional variability, causing mismatches between form and function.

"We're using elements of both Old English grammar and Modern English grammar at the same time." [Transcript segment]

Interrogative Pronouns: Who vs. Whom

Further complicating pronoun usage are interrogative pronouns:

• Who: Subject form
• Whom: Object form

Modern usage often favors "who" over "whom," even in contexts where "whom" is grammatically correct, such as after prepositions or in object positions. The Latin-influenced rule that pronouns following linking verbs must take the subject form exacerbates these confusions.

"The pronoun has to take the subject form where the object form would normally be used." [Transcript segment]

Conclusion: Historical Layers and Future of Pronouns

Kevin Stroud concludes that the complexities of modern English pronouns are deeply rooted in historical language evolution, influenced by Old English structures, Old Norse borrowings, and later Latin-based grammatical rules imposed by grammarians. These layers have created a system where pronouns must navigate both ancient forms and modern syntax, leading to persistent confusion and errors.

Stroud suggests that future simplifications, akin to the consolidation seen with "you," might emerge to resolve these longstanding issues. Until then, English speakers must navigate the intricate legacy of pronoun history.

"Much of that confusion could be completely removed if English simply did what it previously did with words like you and it." [Transcript segment]

In the upcoming episodes, Stroud promises to explore additional grammatical aspects influenced by Viking invasions and other historical developments, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the English language's rich history.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Introduction to Pronouns:
  "Our modern personal pronouns are part of our core vocabulary... we'll explore the history of our modern personal pronouns." [00:09]

• Singular vs. Plural 'You':
  "You became the great equalizer in the social uncertainty of the late Middle ages." [Middle sections]

• Third Person Pronoun Development:
  "They were so similar that English speakers had a tough time discerning whether someone was talking about a boy or girl, or one person or several people." [Third person section]

• Grammar Rule Origins:
  "This rule entered English from Latin. It was not native, it was not organic." [Linking verbs discussion]

This episode masterfully intertwines linguistic history with contemporary usage, offering listeners insightful perspectives on the enduring complexities of English pronouns.