Macro, Micro, and Meso Approaches to Generalizing in Queer Linguistics: Investigating Non-Binary Pronouns in Dutch

Abstract

The current paper presents data on the use of and variation in third-person singular personal pronouns in Dutch from macro, micro, and meso perspectives. It argues that it is possible to present generalizing macro findings about queer language (users) in a way that combats their marginalization, whilst mitigating the risks of presenting queer language (users) in an essentializing or stereotyping way. It does so by presenting the macro findings that the flexible use of the pronominal systems die/diens and hen/hun was dominant in production amongst inclusion-oriented language users, as well as the findings that they were used frequently and evaluated positively by by non-binary participants (in reference to themselves). This finding can be a tool in order to help fewer non-binary individuals be misgendered. To mitigate the risks of essentializing, additional analyses were conducted at both a micro and a meso level. The micro analysis showed the full range of production and evaluation of non-binary pronouns: other strategies than die/diens and hen/hun, such as name repetition and neologisms, were also used in production, and not all non-binary participants used die/diens or hen/hun as their own standard pronouns or evaluated them positively. Furthermore, in the analysis of the sociolinguistic variation between die/diens and hen/hun, meso categories beyond static social category labels allowed for social factors to be connected to interaction, rather than contributing to the notion that queer language users all share inherent, essential characteristics.