 jeffrey weber reply own approach generic problem base observation late survival hstem feminine historical english many case form identical masculine observation counter modern writer pyle algeo strang penelope email citation writer keep alive academically popular idea hstem feminine disappear before hinitial form feminine pronoun alive necessarily various part britain elsewhere guess usually restrict rural area conservative speaker part derbyshire example retain form typically write naturally normally regard misuse possessive pronoun dialect map eg orton often deal pronoun paul foulk paul foulk newcastle ac uk 