ETCThis is one of the debates that France keeps secret, especially when it comes to its language: Should or should not so-called inclusive writing be banned? To put it this way, as the right-wing majority in the Senate did with a bill that just passed by a large majority, is to misrepresent the problem for the simple reason that the language .
ETCThis is one of the debates that France keeps secret, especially when it comes to its language: Should or should not so-called inclusive writing be banned? To put it this way, as the right-wing majority in the Senate did with a bill that just passed by a large majority, is to put the problem poorly, for the simple reason that language is essentially a code with rules, but it is governed by the use of those who speak it.
These and these? This was the first widely adopted concession in language usage to better recognize the feminine gender. The same is not true of “cells”, those “neutral” pronouns whose use does not go beyond the periphery of ultra-minority publications and militant expressions, and of which we may be suspicious – such as “iel”, which confuses “he” with “it”. At this stage, it will carry the enthusiasm of the speakers.
Undoubtedly, it would be necessary to write a “speaker” or similar form to please participatory proponents. But here too the use of “midpoints” is made more to please today’s ridiculous Precieuses than to advocates of a language that is easy to use, nice to write and read, and therefore truly inclusive. In fact, this usage is not very popular and it is not difficult to guess why.
The use of “midpoints” is done more to please today’s ridiculous Precious than to advocates of an easy-to-use, beautiful, and therefore truly inclusive language.
Advocates of the scarecrow-like purity of French-branded inclusive writing, starting with the French Academy itself, which feared a “mortal danger” to our language. The new permanent secretary, Amin Maalouf, has not yet commented on the issue. However, the wise men of Quai Conti have already accepted the systematic feminization of professional names; This is a development that is welcomed by academics and senators, is appreciated by use, and tends to become the norm.
For those who fear changes inspired by fashion and imposed by the actions of activist groups, note that in 2017 and 2021 circulars prohibited the use of inclusive writing in school textbooks and administrative documents. So should we pass legislation as suggested by the Senate?
Although it does not seem certain that such a text will be voted on in the National Assembly, it is clear that the return of this debate, which the President somewhat trapped during the opening of the French City, is inevitable. The speaking world in Villers-Cotterêts has a political dimension as well as a linguistic one. It is certainly not useless to check for possible “deviations”. But in the end, usage will decide.
