Language Policy and Inclusion

What is inclusive language? How do speakers of French perceive gender-neutral expressions? What roles do linguistic authorities play in the future of linguistic inclusion? Historical and more recent social movements have called into question the purist assertion that the grammatical masculin gender ought to be considered neutral in French. From the feminization of profession names, the proximity agreement, to binary and gender-neutral pronouns, inclusive language encompasses a vast variety of applications. In addition, sociolinguistic and political differences between France and Québec result in diverging attitudes toward its implementation, ranging from political support to outright institutional rejection. This course will explore language policies in France and Québec responsible for the practical implementation of inclusive language. The course is designed to help students improve their analytical and critical thinking skills, work with data, and prepare them for professional research presentations, including abstracts as well as poster and conference talks.

Materials will be provided by the instructor.