Processing third-person non-binary pronouns in Dutch: an EEG study
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2023-08-16
Language
en
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Abstract
Recently hen and hun have been introduced to the Dutch language as non-binary pronouns. The current study investigates whether these are processed differently from masculine and feminine pronouns, and to what extent experience with, attitude toward, and general habituation to the non-binary pronouns influences this. An EEG experiment was conducted among Dutch young adults who read a text in which these pronouns were used. Results indicate a general processing cost that can be related to interpretation difficulties that arise when hen refers to a singular non-binary antecedent. While it was expected to find additional processing costs related to syntactic violations that arise when hen is used as a subject pronoun in combination with a singular finite verb, the results do not support this. Expectations regarding influences from experience and attitude, or from short-term habituation on processing costs were not supported. Possible explanations and interpretations are discussed.
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Faculteit der Letteren