Skip to Main Content

Language and Text
2020. Vol. 7, no. 3, 79–88
https://doi.org/10.17759/langt.2020070308
ISSN: 2312-2757 (online)

On Gender Marking in the English Language

 
Audio is AI-generated
268

PDF (RUS)
Online translation in english
GS
Information
in Google Scholar
Metrics

Abstract

The paper is concerned with a diachronic study of gender marking in the English language. The study aims to trace the evolution of markers differentiating the grammatical category of gender. It is revealed that the decay of gender in the English language resulted from that of case inflections which used to be the distinct gender markers of Old English noun and adjective paradigms. The paper also examines linguistic and extralinguistic causes of the development of third-person pronouns which are referred to as the main gender markers in Modern English. Gender aspect of pronominal reference is viewed form a sociocultural perspective associated with attempts to eliminate sexism in language. In this regard, it is shown to what extent this tendency has influenced the meaning, forms and functioning of English pronouns.

General Information

Keywords: history of the English language, diachrony, the grammatical category of gender, gender markers, gender differences, epicene pronouns

Journal rubric: Problems of Modern Linguistics

OpenAlex citations: 1

OpenAlex topics: Gender Studies in Language, Linguistics, Language Diversity, and Identity, Linguistic Variation and Morphology

Information about the work in OpenAlex

Number of citations: 1

Topics

Gender Studies in Language

This cluster of papers explores the gender representation and stereotypes present in educational materials, particularly children's literature and language textbooks. It delves into the impact of language on social perception, linguistic reforms for gender inclusivity, and the analysis of gender bias in educational resources. Additionally, it addresses the intersection of queer theory with language education and the influence of grammatical gender on gender representation.

Number of works: 47659  |  Total number of citations: 242129

Topic detailsв OpenAlex

Linguistics, Language Diversity, and Identity

This cluster of papers explores linguistic borrowing, language contact phenomena, and the influence of one language on another. It delves into topics such as anglicisms, neologisms, pragmatic borrowing, sociolinguistics, and the cultural and semantic implications of lexical influence. The papers also discuss bilingualism and the impact of English on various European languages.

Number of works: 106819  |  Total number of citations: 423051

Topic detailsв OpenAlex

Linguistic Variation and Morphology

This cluster of papers explores sociolinguistic variation, language change, and the perception of dialects and accents. It delves into the social meanings and identities associated with different linguistic features, such as indexicality, ethnicity, and speech perception. The research also covers the influence of media, social networks, and historical factors on language variation and change.

Number of works: 103371  |  Total number of citations: 917937

Topic detailsв OpenAlex

Work details in OpenAlex

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/langt.2020070308

Published

For citation: Yarovikova, Y.V. (2020). On Gender Marking in the English Language. Language and Text, 7(3), 79–88. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/langt.2020070308

© Yarovikova Y.V., 2020

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

References

  1. Arakin V.D. Istoriya anglijskogo yazyka: ucheb. posobie. 2-e izd. [History of the English language]. 2003. Moscow: FIZMATLIT, 272 p. (In Russ.).
  2. Guhman M.M. Istoriko-tipologicheskaya morfologiya germanskih yazykov [Historical-typological morphology of the Germanic languages]. 1977. Moscow: Nauka, 359 p. (In Russ.).
  3. Il'ish B.A. Sovremennyj anglijskij yazyk: teoreticheskij kurs. 2-e izd., ispr. i dop. [Modern English: a theoretical course]. 1948. Moscow: Publ. lit. na inostr. yaz., 348 p. (In Russ.).
  4. Kiyanova K.A. Osobennosti muzhskoj i zhenskoj publichnoj rechi na materiale rechej G. Kolya, G. Shredera i A. Merkel' [Features of male and female public speeches: a study of Helmut Kohl, Gerhard Schroeder and Angela Merkel’s public speeches]. Yazyk i tekst = Language and Text, 2016. Vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 76–85. Available at: https://psyjournals.ru/langpsy/2016/n2/Kiyanova.shtml (Accessed: 11.07.2020). (In Russ.).
  5. Nikolaeva N.N. Gendernyj aspekt mestoimennoj referencii. Avtoref. dis. kand. filol. nauk. [Gender aspect of pronominal reference. Ph. D. (Philology) Thesis]. Moscow, 2008. 24 p. (In Russ.).
  6. Paul' G. Principy istorii yazyka [Principles of the history of language]. 1960. Moscow: Publ. inostrannoj literatury, 501 p. (In Russ.).
  7. Rastorgueva T.A. Ocherki po istoricheskoj grammatike anglijskogo yazyka [Historical grammar of the English language]. 1989. Moscow: Vyssh. shk., 160 p. (In Russ.).
  8. Smirnickij A.I. Hrestomatiya po istorii anglijskogo yazyka s VII po XVII v. s grammaticheskimi tablicami i istoricheskim i etimologicheskim slovarem [Specimens of English from the 7th to the 17th century with a summary of Old and Middle English inflections and a historical and etymological glossary]. 1953. Moscow: Publ. lit. na inostr. yaz., 288 p. (In Russ.).
  9. Smolyanko Yu.V. Gendernaya specifika vyrazitel'noj reprezentacii emocii gneva v angloyazychnoj hudozhestvennoj proze XIX–XX vv. [Gender differences in lexical representation of anger in the English fiction of the XIX–XXth centuries]. Vestnik Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo lingvisticheskogo universiteta = The Bulletin of Irkutsk State Linguistic University, 2011, vol. 4, pp. 183–188. Available at: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/gendernaya-spetsifika-vyrazitelnoy-reprezentatsii-emotsii-gneva-v-angloyazychnoy-hudozhestvennoy-proze-xix-xx-vv-1 (Accessed: 11.07.2020) (In Russ.).
  10. Har'kovskaya A.A. Kognitivnye aspekty evolyucii gendernyh markerov v anglijskom yazyke [Cognitive aspects of the development of gender markers in English]. Vestnik Samarskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta = The Bulletin of Samara State University, 1999, no.1, pp. 139–143. Available at: http://vestniksamgu.ssau.ru/gum/1999web1/yaz/199911203.html (Accessed: 11.07.2020). (In Russ.).
  11. Yarovikova Yu.V. Leksema “anger” v germenevticheskom osveshchenii [Lexeme “anger” in a hermeneutical perspective]. Vestnik Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo lingvisticheskogo universiteta = The Bulletin of Irkutsk State Linguistic University, 2014, vol. 2, pp. 188–192. Available at: http://www.islu.ru/files/2014/227_2014_0.pdf (Accessed: 11.07.2020) (In Russ.).
  12. Finnegan E.G. New Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language. 1989. Dehli: Surjeet Publications, 1824 p.
  13. Foreman J.B. Collins National Dictionary. 1969. Linden: William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., 542 р.
  14. Hornby A.S. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. 2000. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1539 р.
  15. Neufeldt V., Sparks A.N. Webster’s New World Dictionary. 1982. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1692 p.
  16. Procter P. Cambridge International Dictionary of English. 1995. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 773 р.
  17. The American Heritage Dictionary. 1985. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 671р.
  18. The New Merriam–Webster Dictionary. 1989. Massachusetts: Merriam–Webster INC., Publishers Springfield, 989 р.
  19. The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1985. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press, 1024 р.
  20. The Standard Dictionary оf the English Language. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 2816 р.

Information About the Authors

Yulia V. Yarovikova, Candidate of Science (Philology), Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign and Russian Philology, Moscow State University of Psychological and Education (MSUPE), Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2097-8597, e-mail: yarovikovayuv@mgppu.ru

Metrics

 Web Views

Whole time: 880
Previous month: 26
Current month: 2

 PDF Downloads

Whole time: 268
Previous month: 8
Current month: 0

 Total

Whole time: 1148
Previous month: 34
Current month: 2