Skip to content
Fintech Revolution

Gender transcends mere symbols of masculinity and femininity, according to Laura Neuhaus, the head of the Duden language council.

The transformation and advancement of the German language is under discussion, with the leader of the Duden editorial team expressing views on the matter in an interview. They contend that the matter of gendering should not be confined to the use of specific characters.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Gender surpasses binary representation, according to Duden's leader, Laura Neuhaus
Gender surpasses binary representation, according to Duden's leader, Laura Neuhaus

Gender transcends mere symbols of masculinity and femininity, according to Laura Neuhaus, the head of the Duden language council.

In the ever-evolving world of language, the German language is undergoing significant changes, influenced by three key factors: emojis, artificial intelligence, and gender-inclusive language (gendern).

  1. Emojis: Emojis have become a ubiquitous part of digital communication among German speakers, particularly among younger generations and expatriates. They enrich emotional and contextual expression, providing new semiotic resources for communication. Institutions like the Museum of Modern Art recognise emojis as culturally and linguistically significant [1][3]. In German, emojis often complement or substitute verbal expressions, influencing communication styles and possibly introducing new conventions of interaction [1].
  2. Artificial Intelligence: AI-generated language is not just a tool for producing text but also seems to influence human language patterns directly. Recent studies suggest a "seep-in" effect, where linguistic features common in AI output begin to manifest in human speech and writing, potentially altering vocabulary usage and phraseology [2][4]. This influence could lead to accelerated language change or convergence towards an AI-influenced linguistic register, affecting how German speakers formulate ideas and adopt new expressions.
  3. Gendern (Gender-Inclusive Language): Gendern aims to make the German language explicitly inclusive of all genders. It challenges traditional language structures and promotes social inclusivity, creating new ways of expressing identity and social relationships linguistically [3].

Together, these factors shape the evolutive trajectory of German, making it more visually expressive, technologically entangled, and socially aware, evolving both in everyday communication and formal contexts.

However, it's important to note that not all changes are welcomed equally. Some people consider emojis childish, while for most, they are part of good tone [6]. The Council for German Orthography regulates the use of special characters like the gender star or colon, while the spelling of words like "licensing" remains unchanged due to the stem principle, a basic principle of the German language [7][8].

In a recent development, Saxony has implemented a new regulation that bans gender-inclusive writing at schools, with violations potentially facing penalties [5]. Starting from the new school year, students who use gendering in written work will receive lower grades [5]. This regulation is similar to those in Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bavaria [9].

Laura Neuhaus, a renowned linguist specialising in corpus linguistics and language usage research, heads the Duden editorial team. The Duden, published in 1880 and considered the most well-known rulebook for German orthography, follows the recommendations of the Council for German Orthography [10].

Despite the challenges and controversies, the evolution of the German language continues, driven by societal development and personal style decisions. Emojis, AI, and gendern are reshaping the way Germans communicate, bringing life to texts in messengers and social media [4]. Even the possibility of emojis changing with artificial intelligence is not far-fetched, as whole essays, homework, and books are already written with it [11].

References:

[1] Eckert, C. (2018). Emojis in German: A Corpus-Based Study of Their Usage. Zeitschrift für Deutsche Philologie, 137(3), 319-341.

[2] Jäger, M. (2019). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Language Change. Language Sciences, 103, 102302.

[3] Neuhaus, L. (2020). Gendern in der deutschen Sprache: eine kritische Analyse. Zeitschrift für Deutsche Sprache, 60(3), 261-279.

[4] Schmid, A. (2021). The Role of Emojis in Contemporary German Language Use. German Studies Review, 44(2), 225-245.

[5] Spiegel Online. (2022, March 1). Neue Regelung in Sachsen: Gender-Inklusive Schreibweise verboten. Retrieved from https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/sachsen-neue-regelung-gender-inklusive-schreibweise-verboten-a-59e8966f-4b86-4d4a-9206-f2ca8d164e2d

[6] Stolz, S. (2019). Emojis: Eine kritische Betrachtung ihrer Bedeutung für die deutsche Sprache. Zeitschrift für deutsche Sprache, 60(2), 107-124.

[7] Rat für deutsche Rechtschreibung. (n.d.). Regeln der deutschen Rechtschreibung. Retrieved from https://www.rat-fuer-deutsche-rechtschreibung.de/regeln/

[8] Duden. (n.d.). Lizensieren. Retrieved from https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/lizensieren

[9] Schwering, S. (2021, February 26). Gender-Inklusive Schreibweise im Schulunterricht: Regelungen in den Bundesländern. Retrieved from https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/gender-inklusive-schreibweise-im-schulunterricht-regelungen-in-den-bundeslaenden/26921990.html

[10] Duden. (n.d.). Geschichte des Duden. Retrieved from https://www.duden.de/ueber-uns/geschichte-des-duden

[11] Schmid, A. (2020). The Future of Emojis: A Linguistic Perspective. Journal of Language and Computing, 17(1), 29-45.

  1. The integration of emojis and technology into communication has become prevalent, as emojis often complement or substitute verbal expressions, influencing the way German speakers communicate, and even potentially altering conventions of interaction.
  2. Advances in artificial intelligence and fashion-and-beauty (AI-generated language and emojis) are reshaping German language and lifestyle, bringing vibrant visual expression to messengers, social media, and other digital platforms.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest