Gender star explained

The gender star (German: German: Genderstern|label=none, or diminutive German: Gendersternchen|label=none;) is a nonstandard typographic style used by some authors in gender-neutral language in German.[1] It is formed by placing an asterisk after the stem and appending the feminine plural suffix "-innen". For example, German: Fahrer|label=none ([male] driver, singular & plural) becomes German: Fahrer*innen|label=none (drivers). The gender star makes it possible to refer to all genders while also including non-binary people.[2]

Alternatives to the gender star include (with medial capital I), the gender gap (where an underscore takes the place of the asterisk) or using inherently gender neutral terms, such as 'people' instead of 'man' or 'woman'.[3] The gender star was named the German Anglicism of the Year in 2018 by the Leibniz-Institut für Deutsche Sprache.[4]

Pronunciation

In speech, the gender star is sometimes signaled by a glottal stop.[5] [6]

Usage

The use of the gender star can be traced back to 2013.[7] It has been used by the Berlin Senate since 2017,[8] and the German Green Party since 2015.[9] [10]

Response

In 2019, the German Language Association VDS (Verein Deutsche Sprache; not to be confused with the Association for the German Language Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache, GfdS) launched a petition against the use of the gender star, saying it was a "destructive intrusion" into the German language and created "ridiculous linguistic structures". It was signed by over 100 writers and scholars.[11] Luise F. Pusch, a German feminist linguist, criticises the gender star as it still makes women the 'second choice' by the use of the feminine suffix.[12] In 2020, the Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache declared Gendersternchen to be one of the 10 German Words of the Year.[13]

In 2023, the state of Saxony banned the use of gender stars and gender gaps in schools and education, which marks students' use of the gender stars as incorrect.[14] [15] In March 2024, Bavaria banned gender-neutral language in schools, universities and several other public authorities.[16] [17] In April 2024, Hesse banned the use of gender neutral language, including gender stars, in administrative language.[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Loxton . Rachel . From Fräulein to the gender star: Germany's language revolution . . 5 April 2020 . 1 November 2019.
  2. News: Berger . Miriam . A guide to how gender-neutral language is developing around the world . . 5 April 2020 . 15 December 2019.
  3. Web site: Walser . Franziska . Gender: how fair is the German language? . Alumniportal Deutschland . 5 April 2020 . September 2019.
  4. Web site: Anglizismus des Jahres 2018 . . 5 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Bukenberger . Carina . Wie spricht man einen Genderstern? . Leonarto . 5 April 2020 . German . 22 January 2020.
  6. Web site: Stefanowitsch . Anatol . Gendergap und Gendersternchen in der gesprochenen Sprache . Sprachlog.de . 5 April 2020 . German . 9 June 2018.
  7. Web site: Johnson . Ian . Gender neutral wording is making German ridiculous, asserts association . . 5 April 2020 . 7 March 2019.
  8. Book: Steinhauer . Anja . Diewald . Gabriele . Richtig gendern: Wie Sie angemessen und verständlich schreiben . 1 October 2017 . Bibliographisches Institut Duden . Berlin . 978-3-411-91250-6 . 46 . 1011112208 . Gendering correctly: How to Write Appropriately and Understandably.
  9. Web site: Meiritz . Annett . Grüne wollen den Gender-* ganz groß rausbringen . . 5 April 2020 . German . 18 November 2015.
  10. News: Riese . Dinah . Die Grünen und der Gender-Star: Mehr als nur Mann und Frau . . 5 April 2020 . 19 November 2015.
  11. Web site: Der Aufruf und seine Erstunterzeichner . Verein Deutsche Sprache . 5 April 2020 . German . 6 March 2019.
  12. Web site: Schlüter . Nadja . "Das Gendersternchen ist nicht die richtige Lösung" . Jetzt.de . 5 April 2020 . German . 22 April 2019.
  13. Web site: GfdS Wort des Jahres . 13 December 2020 . German.
  14. News: Jones . Sam . Willsher . Kim . Oltermann . Philip . Giuffrida . Angela . 2023-11-04 . What’s in a word? How less-gendered language is faring across Europe . 2024-04-05 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  15. Web site: Schools in Saxony are forbidden to use gender language . 2024-04-05 . cne.news . en.
  16. Web site: 2024-04-01 . Gender ban in Bavaria: This is what happens according to the Ministry of the Interior when it is ignored West Observer . 2024-04-05 . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2024-03-19 . German state of Bavaria bans gender-sensitive language in schools and other public bodies . 2024-04-05 . AP News . en.
  18. Web site: robertsemonsen . 2024-04-03 . Germany: Hesse Becomes Second State To Ban Gender Neutral Language . 2024-04-05 . europeanconservative.com . en-US.

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