性別を限定しない単数代名詞（歴史的）；向こうのあれ（方言）
解説 Definition
19世紀に that one を縮めて提案された、性別を特定しない単数代名詞。現代の標準英語ではほとんど使われない。別の方言的用法では、遠くにいる人や物を指して「向こうのあれ・あの」と表す。
Thon is a rare, historically proposed gender-neutral singular pronoun formed from “that one.” A similar form is also used dialectally in Scots and some varieties of English as a demonstrative referring to a person or thing at a distance.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
thon は19世紀に that one を縮めて提案された、性別を限定しない単数代名詞です。現代の標準英語ではほぼ使われないので、一般的な they の代用として積極的に使う語ではなく、歴史的な代名詞案として覚えます。なおスコットランド英語の thon「向こうのあれ・あの」と重なる用法もあります。
Remember thon by expanding it back into that one: th- comes from that and -on reflects one. It was proposed in the nineteenth century as a singular pronoun that did not specify gender, but it never became common standard English. Today, singular they fills that role much more widely, so thon is mainly encountered in historical discussions of invented pronouns or in dictionaries. Also recognize a separate but overlapping Scots and dialectal use meaning “that one over there,” similar to yon. Context will show whether the word is a proposed personal pronoun or a demonstrative.
例文
If a student needs help, thon should speak to the teacher.
生徒が助けを必要とするなら、その人は教師に相談すべきだ。
Thon house over there has been empty for years.
向こうにあるあの家は何年も空き家になっている。
thon の類義語・関連語
類義語
thon の語源・成り立ち Etymology
thon は英語の that one を縮めて19世紀に作られた語で、性別を限定しない単数代名詞として提案されました。形の上では Scots の thon / yon「向こうのあれ」の響きも重なります。one と同根の alone, only を思うと、「あの一人・あの一つ」から意味が見えます。
Thon was coined in the nineteenth century as a contraction of the phrase that one and promoted as a gender-neutral singular pronoun. Its form also resembles, and in dialectal use overlaps with, Scots thon, a demonstrative meaning “that” or “that one over there,” comparable with yon. Because the proposed pronoun remained uncommon, the word is now chiefly historical or dialectal rather than part of ordinary standard-English pronoun usage.
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