Federal ministries devoid of individuals identified by their gender
The Council for German Orthography has recently introduced new guidelines that reinforce the use of traditional German language rules in official communications, explicitly rejecting gender-inclusive forms using special characters like asterisks or internal capitalization [1][4][5].
Under these new guidelines, any official documents or communications from German federal ministries, including the Chancellor’s office and cultural ministries, will ban the use of gender-sensitive language that employs forms like the Gendersternchen (gender star) or Binnen-I (internal capitalization) [1][4]. The aim is to ensure clarity and maintain traditional orthographic standards in official settings, although private and informal use of gender-sensitive language remains unrestricted [1][4].
The policy on gender-inclusive language in Germany is a policy of the federal government, as confirmed by the spokesperson for the Digital Ministry during a government press conference [2]. The guideline is designed to ensure readability, accessibility, grammatical correctness, clarity, and legal certainty [3].
The use of word-internal special characters can lead to grammatical issues in various cases, according to the new guidelines. However, the resolution of these grammatical issues is ongoing, and the development of this area will continue to be monitored [6]. The guideline also takes into account accessibility and screen reader software [7].
Forced gendering, as stated by Wolfram Weimer, does not reflect how the majority of people in Germany speak. Weimer, the spokesperson for the Digital Ministry in Berlin, also confirmed that the Chancellor's Office does not use gendered letters, emails, or notes [5].
These new guidelines apply to schools and public administration in Germany [8]. The Council for German Orthography states that word-internal special characters do not belong to the core of German orthography [9].
In summary, the new guidelines set by the Council for German Orthography prohibit the use of gender-inclusive special characters in official texts, promote traditional salutations and forms without forced gendering, and apply specifically to official communications within federal ministries and agencies. Private and informal use of gender-sensitive language is not prohibited. The guidelines reflect a stance prioritizing traditional orthographic norms over contemporary gender-neutral innovations in formal German [1][4][5].
[1] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/gender-star-und-binnen-i-sind-in-offiziellen-texte-verboten/27580944.html [2] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article214344786/Geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-Texten.html [3] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-texte-verboten-in-offiziellen-texte-verboten/27580944.html [4] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-Texten-3995467.html [5] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-texte-verboten-in-offiziellen-texte-a-1305862.html [6] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-Texten-3995467.html [7] https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-texte-verboten-in-offiziellen-texte-verboten/27580944.html [8] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article214344786/Geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-Texten.html [9] https://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/Geschlechterstar-verboten-in-offiziellen-Texten-3995467.html
- The policy-and-legislation prohibiting the use of gender-inclusive special characters in official texts is a part of the policy announced by the Council for German Orthography, which applies to schools and public administration in Germany.
- The new policy on gender-inclusive language in official communications, as set by the Council for German Orthography, is rooted in politics, as it aims to maintain traditional orthographic standards and promote traditional salutations and forms without forced gendering, while private and informal use of gender-sensitive language remains unrestricted.
