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MPR News Staff

What to do when language fails us

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When we use the gender-neutral pronouns they and them, instead of he or she, is this political correctness or is there a fundamental problem with language?

MPR News reporter Marianne Combs spoke to a panel of writers, journalist and academics about their concerns on how language fails to express who we are.

The English language continues to evolve, but adapting to changes can be difficult. When the term Ms was first introduced as an alternative to Mrs and Miss, The Economist magazine called it ugly.

Marianne was joined by Kristen Hare, media journalist at Poynter Institute, Ed Bok Lee, author and poet, and Dennis Baron, professor of English and linguistics at the University of Illinois.