 jeffrey weber replies 1 approach generic problem based observation late survival hstem feminine historical english many cases form identical masculine observation counter modern writers pyles algeo strang penelope email citations writers kept alive academically popular idea hstem feminine disappeared 1300 hinitial forms feminine pronoun alive necessarily well various parts britain elsewhere guess usually restricted rural areas conservative speakers parts derbyshire example retain form typically written naturally normally regarded misuse possessive pronoun dialect maps eg orton often deal pronouns paul foulkes paul foulkes newcastle ac uk