Drei Argumente gegen das Gendern | deep und deutlich

ARD

17 May 202203:06

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the challenges and potential failure of implementing gender-neutral language, or 'Gendern', in the German language. It highlights that the concept is tied to simple grammatical rules, which can become complex when applied to cases like the genitive singular and accusative plural. The speaker argues that the adoption of gender-neutral language may be a luxury, considering the difficulties faced by those learning German as a second language, as well as individuals with dyslexia or reading difficulties. They suggest that about 10% of the population in Germany struggles with language acquisition, and these individuals might fall behind with the introduction of gender-neutral terms. The speaker proposes a radical solution of redefining words to be gender-neutral, drawing parallels with how the meaning of words like 'gay' has evolved over time. They also touch upon the historical gendering of job titles and suggest that these could be simplified to be gender-neutral. The speaker acknowledges that public opinion is divided, with 60-70% of people surveyed being against or indifferent to the concept of gender-neutral language. They attribute this to the perception that there are more pressing issues to address, such as healthcare and financial concerns, which can lead to frustration when gender-neutral language is prioritized in public discourse.

Takeaways

📚 The script discusses the challenges of implementing gender-neutral language in German, which is tied to complex grammatical rules.
📉 The use of gender-neutral language could potentially be a barrier for people with a migration background learning German, as it adds another layer of complexity to the language.
👥 Approximately ten percent of the German population struggles with language learning due to dyslexia and related issues, which gender-neutral language could exacerbate.
🤔 The speaker suggests that a comprehensive spelling reform might be needed to accommodate gender-neutral language, which is currently very complicated to implement.
🌟 A personal plea is made for redefining the connotations of words to be more inclusive, similar to how the word 'gay' evolved in meaning in English.
🏷 The grammatical gender of nouns like 'the table' or 'the vase' does not correspond to real-life gender, and the same logic could apply to job titles.
🔄 Historically, female job titles were often derived from male titles (e.g., Müller to Müllerin), and the speaker questions why these cannot simply be unified to be gender-neutral.
📊 Surveys indicate that 60-70% of people might not be in favor of or are against gender-neutral language, which the speaker perceives as a resistance to change.
💭 There is a belief that many people view gender-neutral language as unnecessary, as they are preoccupied with more pressing issues in their lives.
🏠 For individuals struggling with basic needs like paying rent and heating costs or accessing healthcare, the focus on gender-neutral language may seem trivial and frustrating.
📺 The speaker encourages the audience to watch other guests' talks on the topic, available in the ARD Mediathek.

Q & A

Why does the speaker believe that the concept of 'Gender' might fail?
-The speaker suggests that 'Gender' might fail because it is simply attached to basic grammatical rules, which can be complex and difficult for people with language backgrounds different from German, as well as for those with reading and writing difficulties like dyslexia.
What example does the speaker use to illustrate the complexity of gender in the German language?
-The speaker uses the example of the genitive singular and accusative plural, such as 'das Buch des Schülers' (the book of the student), and how it becomes 'Das Buch des/der Schülers*in' to include a female student, which adds complexity.
What is the speaker's view on the necessity of 'Gender' in the German language?
-The speaker believes that 'Gender' might be a luxury that society can afford only if it doesn't exclude or complicate the language learning process for people with migration backgrounds, dyslexia, or other language learning difficulties.
What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to the current gender system in the German language?
-The speaker proposes a renotation of words, similar to how the word 'gay' in English evolved from meaning 'happy' to representing the LGBTQ+ community, and suggests that job titles could also be renotated to be gender-neutral.
Why does the speaker think that the current gender system might be emotionally charged for some people?
-The speaker believes that the emotional charge comes from the perception that while there are pressing issues like healthcare and living costs, the focus on gender might seem unnecessary and thus provoke anger or frustration among those facing more immediate concerns.
What is the speaker's opinion on the general public's stance towards the gender system in the German language?
-The speaker feels that a significant portion of the public, around 60-70 percent, is not in favor of or is against the gender system, viewing it as an unnecessary complication.
What does the speaker imply about the priorities of people facing severe problems?
-The speaker implies that people facing severe problems, such as paying for heating and rent or accessing healthcare, might prioritize these issues over language reform, leading to a perception that gender concerns are less important.
How does the speaker relate the historical context of job titles to the current gender system?
-The speaker points out that female job titles often emerged from a dependency on male titles (e.g., Müller for a male miller and Müllerin for his wife), suggesting that these titles should be renotated to be gender-neutral, like simply 'Müller' for both male and female.
What is the speaker's view on the importance of considering the broader perspective when discussing language reform?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of considering the broader perspective, acknowledging that current surveys indicate a majority of people are against language reform, possibly due to other pressing concerns in their lives.
Why does the speaker mention the need for a comprehensive spelling reform?
-The speaker mentions the need for a comprehensive spelling reform to simplify the language and make it more accessible, but acknowledges that implementing such a reform, especially with the current gender system, would be very complicated.
What is the speaker's suggestion for future language inclusivity?
-The speaker suggests that future language inclusivity could be achieved by renotating words to be gender-neutral, thus making the language more accessible and less complex for everyone, regardless of their background or difficulties with language learning.
How does the speaker address the emotional aspect of the debate on gender in the German language?
-The speaker acknowledges the emotional aspect of the debate by recognizing that people's priorities and feelings are influenced by their personal struggles and the societal issues they face, which might make the focus on gender seem less relevant to some.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Challenges of Implementing Gender in the German Language

The paragraph discusses the difficulties of integrating gender into the German language, which is primarily based on grammatical rules. It mentions how gender is applied to nouns and pronouns, such as using 'des/der Schülers*in' to denote both male and female students. The speaker argues that gender may be an unnecessary complication for people learning German as a second language, as well as for those with dyslexia or reading difficulties. According to surveys, around 10% of people in Germany struggle with language acquisition, and the added complexity of gender can hinder their progress. The speaker suggests that gender should be optional and proposes the idea of redefining words to be more inclusive and gender-neutral.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gender in language

Gender in language refers to the classification of nouns into categories that can determine the form of other words in a sentence, such as adjectives and pronouns. In the script, it is discussed in the context of the German language where gender can complicate the learning process, especially for those with a migration background or language learning difficulties.

💡Genitive case

The genitive case is a grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun, often indicating possession or a close relationship. In the script, it is mentioned in the context of the German language, where the genitive case is used to show possession, as in 'das Buch des Schülers' (the book of the student).

💡Accusative case

The accusative case is a grammatical case used for the direct object of a verb, or for the object of certain prepositions. In the script, it is mentioned alongside the genitive case to illustrate the complexity of German grammar, particularly when considering gender agreement in plural forms.

💡Language learning

Language learning refers to the process of acquiring new language skills. The script discusses the challenges faced by individuals with migration backgrounds when learning German, highlighting that gender in language can be an additional hurdle in the already complex process of language acquisition.

💡Reading and writing difficulties

Reading and writing difficulties, such as dyslexia (Legasthenie in German), refer to a range of conditions that can make learning to read and write challenging. The script mentions that approximately ten percent of people in Germany have difficulties with language learning, which includes those with dyslexia, and how gender in language can exacerbate these issues.

💡Language reform

Language reform involves changing aspects of a language to make it more accessible or easier to use. The script suggests that a comprehensive language reform could be complicated to implement with the current gender system in German, implying that changes might be necessary to make the language more inclusive.

💡Connotation

Connotation refers to the emotional or cultural associations that a word has in addition to its literal or dictionary definition. The script discusses the possibility of redefining or re-connoting words to be gender-neutral, using the word 'gay' in English as an example of how a word's meaning can evolve over time.

💡Occupational titles

Occupational titles are terms used to describe a person's job or profession. The script touches on the gendered nature of these titles in German, where traditionally male and female forms exist, and suggests that these could be re-connoted to be gender-neutral, similar to how 'Müller' could refer to both male and female individuals.

💡Public opinion

Public opinion refers to the collective views of the public on a particular matter. The script mentions that surveys indicate 60-70 percent of people are not in favor of or are against the current gender system in the German language, reflecting a significant portion of the population's sentiment on the issue.

💡Prioritization of issues

Prioritization of issues involves deciding which problems or concerns are most important or urgent. The script discusses how some people may view the gender system in language as less important compared to other pressing issues they face in their daily lives, such as healthcare access or financial burdens.

💡Media representation

Media representation refers to how issues or topics are portrayed in the media. The script suggests that the way the gender system in language is presented in the media may lead some people to feel that it is being prioritized over other more immediate concerns, which can evoke frustration or anger.

Highlights

The discussion centers around the potential failure of gender-neutral language ('Gendern') in the German language, which is seen as overly reliant on simple grammatical rules.

The example 'das Buch des Schülers' (the book of the student) is used to illustrate the complexity of applying gender-neutral language.

The speaker suggests that gender-neutral language could be a luxury, as it adds an extra layer of difficulty for those learning German as a second language.

Approximately ten percent of people in Germany struggle with language learning due to dyslexia and other reading difficulties, which gender-neutral language could exacerbate.

The speaker proposes a complete spelling reform to address the complexity of implementing gender-neutral language.

A personal plea is made to re-connote words, similar to how the word 'gay' evolved in meaning in English, to be more inclusive and less grammatically gendered.

The idea is floated that job titles could be de-gendered, as they often have no relation to an individual's sex in real life.

Historically, female job titles were derived from male titles, indicating a dependency that the speaker argues should be re-evaluated.

The speaker believes that the term 'Müller' (miller) could be used for both genders, moving away from gendered titles.

Current polls suggest that 60-70 percent of people are not in favor of or are against gender-neutral language.

Many people view the push for gender-neutral language as unnecessary, believing there are more pressing issues to address.

The emotional response to gender-neutral language is tied to the perception that it is being prioritized over more immediate concerns like healthcare and living costs.

The speaker empathizes with those who are struggling with more basic needs and may feel frustrated by the focus on language reform.

The discussion highlights a disconnect between the perceived urgency of language reform and the daily struggles faced by many individuals.

The speaker calls for a broader perspective that acknowledges the various challenges people face, not just those related to language.

The conversation is part of a larger series of talks available in the ARD Mediathek for viewers to explore further.