Department head Wolfram Weimer institutes a ban on the use of gender terminology within his department.
In a policy decision made by Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, the use of gender-inclusive language has been prohibited in official correspondence from his agency. This change complies with the guidelines of the Council for German Orthography.
The ban applies to letters, emails, and notes from the Commissioner for Culture and Media in the Chancellor's Office. The prohibition does not extend to the general use of language outside of official correspondence. Privately, employees remain free to use gender-inclusive language.
Instead of using gender-neutral language, the agency will now greet addressees with the salutation "very dear ladies and gentlemen". Minister Weimer believes that gendering language "damages the beauty of our language".
The minister's decision has sparked mixed reactions. Advocates of gender inclusivity argue that such measures undermine efforts toward equality and inclusivity. They see the ban as a political statement about preserving traditional language aesthetics and societal cohesion.
On the other hand, supporters of the ban argue that it is essential to preserve traditional linguistic norms and prevent societal division. The use of gender-neutral language with a star symbol or the umlaut has been increasing in Germany for years.
The ban has ignited broader discussions about language policy, inclusivity, and cultural identity in Germany. Critics view it as part of a broader backlash against progressive language reforms and gender sensitivity measures.
However, no significant official institutional backlash is detailed in the sources, though the move has been publicly debated. The change in language usage is expected to impact official correspondence from the Commissioner for Culture and Media in the Chancellor's Office.
[1] Source 1 [2] Source 2
- The policy decision made by Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer to prohibit gender-inclusive language in official correspondence from his agency is a part of the political landscape, falling under the realm of policy-and-legislation.
- This ban on gender-inclusive language in vocational training materials, such as those used in the Commissioner for Culture and Media in the Chancellor's Office, has stirred debates in the general news, with discussions surrounding language policy, inclusivity, and cultural identity in Germany.
