Pronouns are a crucial part of language, allowing individuals to refer to a person, object, or event without having to repeat the same noun over and over again. Pronouns provide efficient communication, and generally allow for smoother conversation. This article will explore the various types of pronouns, how pronouns can influence language, and the effects of pronouns on cognition.
Pronouns can be categorized in a number of ways. Personal pronouns refer to specific people or things and include first-person pronouns (e.g. I, me, my, mine), second-person pronouns (e.g. you, yours), and third-person pronouns (e.g. he, she, it, they, them, theirs). Possessive pronouns indicate ownership and include mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, and theirs. Demonstrative pronouns point to specific nouns and include this, that, these, and those. Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions and include who, whom, which, and what. Finally, relative pronouns are used to introduce clauses and include who, whom, which, and that.
Pronouns can influence language in a variety of ways. Numerous studies have suggested that men and women use pronouns differently in conversations, with women using more first-person and second-person pronouns and men using more third-person pronouns (Craig, 2004; Johnson, 2006). Additionally, pronouns can influence how people perceive a speaker. In one study, participants were asked to evaluate a speaker’s trustworthiness and intelligence based on the pronouns that were used (Kang & Rubin, 2009). Results indicated that speakers who used more first-person pronouns were perceived as more trustworthy and intelligent than those who used more third-person pronouns.
The effects of pronouns on cognition have also been studied. In one study, participants were asked to read a passage containing either first-person pronouns or third-person pronouns (Gordon & Zlomke, 2013). Results indicated that participants who read the passage containing first-person pronouns felt more connected to the material than those who read the passage containing third-person pronouns. Additionally, a number of studies have suggested that pronouns can influence decision-making. For example, studies have found that pronouns can influence choices related to investments (Wang & Urminsky, 2016) and consumer behavior (Meyer & Schulz, 2016).
Overall, this article has explored the various types of pronouns, how pronouns can influence language, and the effects of pronouns on cognition. Pronouns are an important part of language and can have a significant impact on how people perceive a speaker and make decisions. Future research should continue to explore the effects of pronouns on language and cognition.
References
Craig, M. (2004). Gender differences in the use of pronouns. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 23(4), 395–419.
Gordon, C., & Zlomke, K. (2013). The effects of first-person pronouns on the reader’s sense of connection and understanding. Reading Psychology, 34(4), 302–319.
Johnson, M. (2006). Gender differences in pronoun use revisited. Sex Roles, 55(5-6), 331–346.
Kang, S., & Rubin, D. (2009). Pronouns as indicators of speaker trustworthiness and intelligence. Discourse Processes, 46(1), 1–20.
Meyer, K., & Schulz, A. (2016). The influence of word choice on consumer behavior: The role of pronouns. Journal of Business Research, 69(7), 2563–2568.
Wang, L., & Urminsky, O. (2016). How pronouns influence investment decisions. Journal of Consumer Research, 43(2), 329–345.