Ursula K. Le Guin in 1976: “‘He’ is the generic pronoun, damn it, in English.”
Ursula K. Le Guin in 1988: “Until the sixteenth century the English generic singular pronoun was they/them/their, as it still is in English and American colloquial speech. It should be restored to the written language, and let the pedants and pundits squeak and gibber in the streets.”
(from this fascinating 1988 annotation of a 1976 essay on pronouns in her classic 1969 novel, Left Hand of Darkness)
Tag: ursula le guin
The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas
If you’ve never read it, do…if it’s been a while, refresh yourself. Our world is lessened by her passing and still made so great by all she gave us.
noooooooooooooooooooooooooo
As for “Write what you know,” I was regularly told this as a beginner. I think it’s a very good rule and have always obeyed it. I write about imaginary countries, alien societies on other planets, dragons, wizards, the Napa Valley in 22002. I know these things. I know them better than anybody else possibly could, so it’s my duty to testify about them.
Ursula Le Guin
(via kazechama)
knitting in the dark 