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Assessing the Mixed or Generic Feminine as an Inclusive Language Strategy

Mat Pires    Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, France    

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abstract

Proposed grammatical gender-neutral language practices employing rephrasing, binomials, or abbreviated double forms are unlikely to achieve general acceptance or durably modify the linguistic system given their unusual graphical features, variable treatment of speech and writing, heavy processing requirements, increased volume, and overall complexity. In contrast, use of the feminine for mixed reference is well established for female-dominated professions such as nurse, draws on established linguistic resources, and preserves correspondance between written and spoken language. We provide examples of this strategy in several languages and discuss its advantages and shortcomings.

Published
Dec. 29, 2020
Language
EN
ISBN (PRINT)
978-88-6969-479-0
ISBN (EBOOK)
978-88-6969-478-3

Keywords: Inclusive languageFeminizationGrammatical genderLinguistic sexismGender resolution

Copyright: © 2020 Mat Pires. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.