Inclusive writing, French language, dyslexia, language evolution, gender equality, linguistic debates, language learning, Académie Française
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Abstract
This document discusses the difficulties and disadvantages of inclusive writing in the French language, its impact on dyslexics and language learners, and the ongoing debates surrounding its use.
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[...] The study we conducted gives the impression of an excessive conservatism based on misplaced pride and an attachment to a language that is and will always be subject to evolution. If the obstacles for people with dys are very real, a search for a solution can be made to circumvent them, which is not the case when the argument touches on each person's sensitivity. To do this, we recommend Pascal Brunet's book 'Inclusive/non-gendered writing. How to implement it while remaining accessible'. [...]
[...] In this analysis, we will try to answer these questions. First, we will see the difficulties of language evolution, then, we will see the disadvantages of inclusive writing, which explains why it is disturbing, and finally, we will address the why of inclusive writing and its advantages. I. The difficulties of language evolution and the policy of least effort With regard to the evolution of the French language, we can see that two currents are in conflict. One tends towards drastic simplification, while the other is fiercely attached to the culture of the language. [...]
[...] In addition to the gender struggle, inclusive writing can be a radical tool to re-educate a sexist and unequal society. According to Eliane Viennot, historian and professor (she insists on the feminization of her title) "the French language as it is practiced reflects the sexism that exists in our minds." The feminization of terms supported in 2017 by a government circular would be a good way to give visibility to professions that may suffer from sexist representations such as mayor or minister. [...]
[...] If we add to this the use of a midpoint, the difficulty could be insurmountable and prevent access to reading and information. Inclusive writing can pose challenges for certain people such as dyslexics and new learners of the language. In addition, the FFDys (Fédération Française des Dys) emphasizes that one of the means of compensation to overcome these handicaps is voice synthesis, which is useless in inclusive writing. In the search for equality, we risk making learning more unjust than it already is. [...]
[...] Despite a constant evolution of the French language, particularly thanks to the Académie Française, which allowed the invention of modern French through its last major reform in 1835, we can observe a certain attachment to what makes our language. In addition to the difficulty of accepting all reforms, including the one mentioned in the previous paragraph, we can find laws that contribute to the conservation of our language, such as the Toubou Law and the law on the relative protection of regional languages and their promotion. These two laws aim to preserve the French language as we know it and its heritage. [...]
