Tea Talk: On the question of (im)proper pronouns

Dr. Kiki Kosnick, assistant professor of French, and Vickie R. Phipps, assistant professor of art and graphic design, will present the Tea Talk: "On the question of (im)proper pronouns: a provocation for queering linguistic networks."

Description: "In recent years, familiarity with gender-neutral and non-binary pronouns has continued to increase as speakers of English are identifying themselves as “they,” “xe,” and “per” with greater frequency at the same time as many educators and activists are mindful to avoid gender-coded language. Although it is now common in some educational and community settings for folks to share their pronouns as part of routine introductions, at best, one notes a chasm between everyday linguistic practices and the grammatical standards of editorial and scholarly bodies...

"Our provocation intervenes in these ongoing debates by providing an alternate framework that leverages sensibilities already embedded in English grammar (e.g., proper nouns and proper adjectives) while making room for the articulation of queer experience."

The Tea Talks series is sponsored by the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program.

All lectures are held from 11:10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Wednesdays in Carlsson Evald Hall in the Great Hall on the first floor.

Lectures are free and open to the public as well as the campus community. Refreshments are served.