1stp is an informal term for alternate first person pronouns, which are sets of pronouns used to refer to the self that differ from the traditional I/me/mine/myself.
Contents
History
It is unclear when exactly the concept of coining new first person pronouns purely for the sake of self expression originates from. An early set, wei/muis/muir/muirs/muirselves, was created on Tumblr in 2019 by flock-of-changes and vagabond-sun. This set was coined by a median system, although was noted to not be exclusive to medians only.[1] The set was an expansion of the first person pronoun "wei," which vagabond-sun noted was in use on the Daemon page, although the page does not have any information on the history of "wei."[2]
On October 25, 2021, Ezgender proposed a shorthand name for these pronouns in "1stp." This was later posted to his Tumblr, everypronoun, on October 27th[3]. Also On October 25th, a small list of collected 1stp pronouns was posted on everypronoun.[4]
Usage
First person pronouns are generally used to replace first person nouns.[5]
| Singular | Singular (object) | Singular
(Possessive ) |
Singular
(Possessive ) |
Singular (Object) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | |||||
| Traditional first person set | I was happy | Given to me | My friend helped me | That is mine | I like myself |
| Traditional plural first person set | We were happy | Given to us | Our friend helped us | That is ours | We like ourselves |
| Traditional plural first person set (alternative) | We were happy | Given to us | Our friend helped us | That is ours | We like ourself |
| Artificial and proposed 1stp pronouns | |||||
| Yi
(《fræk》, 2021) |
Y was happy | Given to ye | Yi friend helped me | That is yine | Y like yself |
(For a larger list of 1stp pronouns, please see 1stp/List.)
Reasons for Usage
Alternate first person pronouns may or may not be connected to being transgender. Other reasons for wanting to use these pronouns include neurodivergence, typing quirks, or a general want for self expression.
Pronouns that mix, or are alternatives to "we" and "I" may be especially useful to plural people. "Wei"[2] as a pronoun specifically seems to have originated from daemonism, and alternate 1stp pronouns have become somewhat more popular in plural communities.
| “ | Multiplicity, or being part of a multiple system, on the other hand is an umbrella term for a number of phenomena of having more than one person and/or individual in the same body. Multiplicity can include a wide variety of phenomena from walk-ins, mental constructs that gained separate sovereignty, multiplicity that is natural from birth, and much more. The number of individuals in a system can vary from two onward and upward. The connection and relationships between these members, often referred to as headmates within the multiple community, can vary greatly beyond simply being like a ‘friend’ or ‘sibling’ or ‘roommate.’ The term ’multiplicity’ is truly quite an umbrella term and no two systems just as any group of people will be or act alike in relationship structure and life together.
Daemonism is a concept/philosophy in which an individual, referred to as a daemian, imagines seeing and speaks to, often exultingly mentally, their daemon. A daemon is often likened to by many daemians as a mixture of an imaginary friend, a mental construct, and Carl Jung’s archetypal anima and animus that basically embodies part of that person’s mental thought process. The drive towards having a daemon varies among daemians, though the most common reasons stem from influences involving self-introspection, entertainment and/or comfort. |
| — Daemonism, Therianthropy, & Multiplicity by Earth Listener, March 2011, https://projectshift.therianthropy.info/daemonism-therianthropy-multiplicity-by-earth-listener/ |
Canon Representation
In the (at least one translation of) the Japanese dub of the Pokemon anime's, Ash's Pikachu is shown to use pi/pis/piself first person pronouns. [6]
Statistics
It is unclear how many people use 1stp neopronouns, as the concept is very uncommon.
Misgendering
See main article: Misgendering
Using the incorrect pronouns for someone when you are aware of their pronouns is misgendering[7]. This can extend to purposefully not using someone's first person pronouns in applicable situations like quoting and imitating them.
Misgendering is an act of erasure and transphobia, which has been linked to mental health struggles and suicide[8]. The U.S. Transgender Survey states that 54% of those living with unsupportive families, where their family members may misgender them, had attempted suicide within their lifetime. 37% of those with supportive families had attempted suicide at some point of their lives.[9]
Controversy
List of Pronouns
See main article: 1stp/List
Flags
In 2021, Ezgender designed a proposed "standard pronoun template" and released a free online template for it.[11]
Gallery
Coining
Sources
- ↑ https://archive.md/nDrlN
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://daemonpage.com/terminology.php
- ↑ https://archive.md/V78Pi
- ↑ https://archive.md/6qg8B
- ↑ https://study.com/learn/lesson/first-person-pronouns-list.html
- ↑ https://archive.md/hxDNx
- ↑ https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/lets-get-it-right-using-correct-pronouns-and-names
- ↑ https://www.childtrends.org/blog/research-shows-the-risk-of-misgendering-transgender-youth
- ↑ http://affinitymagazine.us/2017/04/17/intentionally-misgendering-transgender-people-is-considered-violence/
- ↑ https://archive.is/Da1c8
- ↑ https://ezgender.tumblr.com/post/655434583038443520/pride-flag-templates-to-follow-up-my-pride-icon