Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words

Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words by John McWhorter

Pronouns have an interesting history. Some merge together, while others separate. English lacks a plural you that is common in other languages. There are many local alternatives (like ya'll), but they are usually considered to be lower class or informal. Today, there has been movement in many language to adopt gender-neutral pronouns. "They" has been adopted in the English language. However, this has lead to some ambiguities in understanding. (You may be able to swap "they" with "she". However, you must then make sure "they" is disambiguated from other versions of "they" in it's classical sense.

Sometimes pronouns are adopted in seemingly improper ways that may actually make sense. Women will often use "you guys" to refer to a group of females, but would never refer to a woman as a "guy". Is this a group empowerment? A shop attendant will say "ya'll come back" to a single person. Maybe there is a hidden plural in this? "Me" and "I" are confusing. "Me and Julio" is technically incorrect when both are subjects, yet "I and Julio" is never used. "Julio and I" is the "official" version. But is it really better?  Some of our pedanticness is based on comparison to other languages rather than "historical English. As long as we are understood, does it matter? 

Analysis of language. history and evolution is always interesting.