Onu (pronoun)
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Onu is a neopronoun in the Polish language intended as a gender-neutral pronoun, and an alternative to the gender-specific pronouns on ("he"), and ona ("she"). It is not officially accepted by the Polish Language Council.
History
[edit]The Polish language does not have a personal gender-neutral pronoun recognized by the Polish Language Council. The most popular neopronoun, created to address nonbinary people, is onu. It was originally coined by science fiction and fantasy writer Jacek Dukaj, for his 2004 book Perfect Imperfection. From the surname of the author, this, and similar neopronouns created by him, are referred to as dukaizmy, and after a term coined by him, also known as the "post-gender pronouns" (Polish: zaimki postpłciowe).[1][2][3][4]
Use
[edit]While "ono" is a neuter Polish pronoun typically used for animals and objects, indicating inanimacy, "onu" serves as a more specific option for non-binary people,[5] which varies among individuals, with some opting for male, female, or neutral pronouns depending on the context and their personal preferences.[6] It's also about daptation of language to accommodate non-binary identities,[7] where "onu" is part of a set of pronouns that may be used to refer to individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female.[6] This is part of a broader discussion on how Polish, being a heavily gendered language, presents challenges for non-binary speakers who seek to express their identities without conforming to traditional masculine or feminine forms.[5]
The use of "u" forms, inspired by the writing of Polish science-fiction writer Jacek Dukaj, and how these forms,[6] including "onu," are part of ongoing efforts to create inclusive language options for non-binary individuals in Polish.[7]
Declension
[edit]| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | onu | ony |
| genitive | jenu / nu / nienu | ich / ich / nich |
| dative | wu | im |
| accusative | nu | ni |
| instrumental | num | nimi |
| locative | num | nich |
| [1][2] | ||
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| first person |
-um | –ałuśmy |
| second person |
–uś | –ałuście |
| third person |
–u | –ły |
| adjectives | –u | –y |
| [1][2] | ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "onu/jenu". zaimki.pl (in Polish).
- ^ a b c "ony/ich". zaimki.pl (in Polish).
- ^ Kinga Dunin (19 June 2021). "Mów do mnie, jak ci wygodnie. Nie sprowadzajmy problemów osób niebinarnych do zaimków". krytykapolityczna.pl (in Polish).
- ^ Tomasz Dec (20 June 2021). "dukaizm". nowewyrazy.pl (in Polish).
- ^ a b Hansen, Karolina; Żółtak, Katarzyna (2022-05-01). "Social Perception of Non-Binary Individuals" (PDF). Archives of Sexual Behavior. 51 (4): 2027–2035. doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02234-y. ISSN 1573-2800. PMC 9192499. PMID 35467171.
- ^ a b c Pajdzińska, Anna Małgorzata (2018-08-17). "Kategorie gramatyczne a językowy obraz świata" (PDF). Etnolingwistyka. Problemy Języka i Kultury. 30: 41. doi:10.17951/et.2018.30.41. ISSN 0860-8032.
- ^ a b Misiek, Szymon (2020). "Misgendered in Translation?: Genderqueerness in Polish Translations of English-language Television Series" (PDF). Anglica. An International Journal of English Studies (29/2). Publishers Panel: 165–185. doi:10.7311/0860-5734.29.2.09. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
