They and Siya: gender-fair language and the Filipinization of English – a report

Abstract

The singular they in English has been the subject of debate in discussions of gender-fair language. However, Global Englishes have no problems in breaking away from linguistic norms maintained by native speakers of English, such as the case of the Philippines. As the national language, Filipino can be described to be gender neutral—supplemented by its pre-colonial treatment of non-heteronormative people—compared to English, a language uses masculine and feminine pronouns to refer to persons. Since colonial independence, English has evolved into a distinct variety whose defining characteristics have been influenced by Filipino. From this, a possibility of integrating a historically indigenous perspective on gender opens up an opportunity to accept gender-fair language in English. The genderlessness of Filipino places Filipino English speakers in a position to accept gender-fair English into everyday use, both positive directions to decolonization and gender mainstreaming in the country.