Talk:Esperanto/Grammar Rules

"Ĝi" is object or animal?

The fifth rule of Esperanto seems to have a flaw: that I know, "ĝi" is he or she, not an object or an animal. Still, I'm no Esperaanto expert, so I'll leave it until any further comment checks this.JMCF125 (discuss • contribs) 20:26, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

In general, "ĝi" means 'it', and as such is used to indicate things and animals. Although Zamenhof originally described it as an epicene pronoun, but, except for small children, is not used as such. It should not be used when referring to adult humans, even when the sex is unclear or undetermined (here, "tio" is usually used, but "persono" and "li" can also be used). Animals are sometimes also referred to using "li" and "ŝi".--JorisvS (discuss • contribs) 22:01, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Thanks for the clarification, but Zamenhof though well then; most languages haven't a pronoun such as the one in English. Why should "ĝi" be used as "it" in English and not as a neutral article as well? Several Esperanto learning centers refer it as he/she, including the program I'm using to learn Esperanto, "Kurso de Esperanto". Maybe the article isn't written from a worldwide view.JMCF125 (discuss • contribs) 18:54, 13 April 2013 (UTC)

I guess that, in principle, you could use it as an epicene pronoun. There are, however, many who would not do the same and it would be safe to err on the side of not using it to refer to people whenever your interlocutor may not do the same (i.e. use it basically as English "it"). --JorisvS (discuss • contribs) 12:07, 16 April 2013 (UTC)