Elle (Spanish pronoun)

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Elle (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeʝe], or less commonly [ˈeʎe] plural: elles [ˈeʝes]) is a proposed non-normative personal pronoun^[1][2] in Spanish intended as a grammatically ungendered alternative to the third-person gender-specific pronouns él ("he"), ella ("she") and ello ("it"). Elle is intended to be used to refer to people whose gender is not known, not specified, or is neither male nor female (ie. a non-binary person).^[3][4][5] The latter is the most common usage in modern times. This word can be seen as an equivalent of the English singular they.

The pronoun is not endorsed by any Spanish-language academy or institution. However, on 27 October 2020, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) briefly incorporated the pronoun into its website. Four days later, it was removed.^[2]

The use of a neutral pronoun in Spanish has been demanded by individuals of non-binary gender or other gender identities who do not feel comfortable using traditional pronouns that are differentiated into masculine and feminine genders. Various experts have indicated the relevance of using appropriate pronouns as a basis for respecting identity, visibility, and acceptance of non-binary or transgender individuals.^[4][6] The creation of a neutral pronoun would solve the problem of a lack of appropriate pronouns for this group of people.^[5]

Over the last few years, the heightened visibility of individuals with diverse genders and the emergence of new forms of communication, such as websites, blogs, and social networks, allowed for new digital forms of expression and language. The adoption of the at symbol (@) to replace the endings "-a" or "-o" in Spanish, which generally denote grammatical gender, was among the first examples of the development of gender neutral usage of pronouns. The at symbol, due to its shape resembling a combination of the letters "a" and "o" and its wide availability on keyboards, became one of the first mechanisms of gender neutrality in language. However, its usage is limited to writing. Along with the at symbol, the letter "x" has also been used to replace the gendered "-a" or "-o".^[7] Thus, pronouns like ellxs and ell@s were created. However, neither pronouns can be pronounced as they are written.^[8] This has additionally created difficulties for visually impaired individuals who use electronic communication systems (which do not recognize these words) and individuals with learning disabilities such as dyslexia.^[9][10]

The use of "-e" as a gender neutral ending, replacing "-a" and "-o", has been proposed since at least 1976.^[11] This option began to expand in use several decades later as an alternative to "-x" and "-@",^[8] as the use of "e" solved the others' pronunciation problems. Thus, the pronoun elle--a combination of él and ella--emerged to denote non-binary individuals or other people in situations where it was not necessary to indicate gender.^[12]

The use of elle is restricted, being more frequently used within groups with sexual and gender diversities, and among younger individuals.^[4][12][13] However, its use has been a subject of debate among linguists and philologists.^[3]

According to those advocating for its use, elle allows for the identification of individuals who do not feel comfortable with other terms, thus respecting their identities.^[14] According to some studies, the inclusion of neutral pronouns in other languages has been connected with the reduction of sexist attitudes.^[15][16][17] Other experts note that elle would also facilitate a more accurate translation of terms from languages that do not have a gendered component, either because neutral pronouns are already in use (as in Swedish and English) or because one wishes to maintain the intention of not communicating gender for other reasons.^[3][5][18]

Some linguists have expressed opposition to the need to create a new pronoun, arguing that it is unnecessary because gender neutrality in Spanish already exists in the form of the generic masculine.^[3] Other linguists have expressed opposition to the adoption of the term, stating that it is not feasible to impose a word on speakers of a language. They argue that it will only become legitimate if it is naturally accepted by the majority of society over time, as is the case with the rest of language. Linguist Carme Junyent i Figueras opposed the term, arguing that it was an imposition on the language by minority groups that "expose themselves to ridicule," and would not generate any further tolerance of gender expression.^[3]

On October 27, 2020, the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) included the pronoun elle in its Observatory of Words, a section of its website relaunched a few days earlier, which is intended to inform the public about words and neologisms under evaluation but not incorporated in the dictionary, though a word's appearance here does not imply acceptance of its use. In that section, the RAE defined elle as follows:^[19]

The pronoun elle is a resource created and promoted in certain areas to refer to those who may not feel identified with either of the two traditional genders. Its use is not widespread or established. The use of elle as the name of the digraph ll is noted in the DLE.

Despite the unofficial status of entries in the Observatory of Words, the inclusion of elle generated considerable discussion and confusion.^[20] Days later, the RAE decided to withdraw the word to avoid confusion regarding its officialization. In this regard, the institution stated: "When the operation and purpose of this section are widely disseminated, it will be reassessed".^[21]

In 2018, an article^[22] in favor of inclusive language published by the EFE News Agency as well as in Le Monde diplomatique edición Chile, in July 2018, written by Gustavo Gac-Artigas, sparked a wide-ranging debate via email among members of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language (ANLE). This led in turn to the ANLE commissioning its Center for Studies to produce a report on the situation of inclusive language among Spanish speakers in North America and other countries. The work was commissioned to researchers Tina Escaja and Natalia Prunes, who compiled a series of studies on inclusive language, including the pronoun elle, which was published by the ANLE in 2021, under the title Por un lenguaje inclusivo. Estudios y reflexiones sobre estrategias no sexistas en la lengua española ("For an inclusive language. Studies and reflections on non-sexist strategies in the Spanish language"), and was presented on January 26, 2022.^[23]

One of the authors argued that it was necessary to "question the dogmatic position expressed by the Royal Spanish Academy regarding inclusive language" and explained that the intention of the selection of texts made "was to open dialogue and reflect on social reality, in order to propose linguistic strategies that help fight against gender discrimination".^[23]

The book specifically refers to elle on two occasions. In one instance, its use is incidentally noted in Argentina by the press (p. 141). The second mention is by Elena Castro, a scholar at Louisiana State University, who mentions the topic in the article titled "Google Translator does not understand. Forging inclusion in exclusive languages", where she writes:

... recently, a promising proposal has emerged: the use of "elle." Many non-binary individuals in our country, and even several publishing houses, have begun to use "elle" as their preferential pronoun for the third person plural and also for the third person singular of undefined or non-normative gender that is not recognized in, or is ascribed to, identity or binary categories; and also for those cases in which the pronoun refers to a trans person. (p. 292)

Look up elle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Gender-neutral language
• Gender-neutral pronoun
• Neopronoun
• Pronoun game
• Iel (pronoun)
• Ri (pronoun)
• Feminist language planning
• Lavender linguistics
• Latinx