Terminological precision as a precursor to development: A theoretical cross-linguistic analysis of English pronoun “You, He/She/It” in Chinese, and its consequences for economic planning and Gender Empowerment

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of linguistic ambiguity in English and Mandarin on communication comprehension among 213 university students in China. Focus was placed on the ambiguous second-person pronoun "you" in English and the gender-neutral third-person pronoun "ta" (他/她) in Mandarin. Results indicate that while a majority of respondents report high proficiency in Mandarin, English proficiency is more varied. A notable minority (17.8%-20.2%) have experienced misunderstandings due to these specific ambiguities, though fewer (17.4%) report tangible real-world consequences. The findings highlight contextual challenges in cross-linguistic communication