How and why Carbotech AG uses gender-sensitive language and pronouns
Language is full of gender assignments. It makes it very difficult to address or talk about people with non-binary or non-specific gender identities without using words that express affiliation to one of the two traditional genders. It doesn’t matter whether we address them as “Mr” and “Mrs”, use pronouns or talk about “Kunden” in a sweeping way and include female customers (Kundinnen). Our language, especially German, often does not take women into account. People with non-binary or non-specific gender identities are usually completely ignored. The social discourse on how to adequately refer to a third gender or additional genders is very controversial. A third-person pronoun for non-binary persons has not yet been established.
Carbotech AG wants to include persons of any gender identity. We also reflect this in the form of gender-appropriate language in the written word: We use the gender star (Kund*innen) in our German texts.
Because people do not have their pronouns to look at, we refer to them as employees on the website. We have taken the following explanation (excerpt) about the use of different pronouns from the website nonbinary.ch.
It, she or he
Certain non-binary people use it, she or he as pronouns for themselves. Because these are already established, we start with them.
Examples:
It: Quinn likes music. It especially likes pop. But his collection also includes many other styles of music.
She: Quinn likes music. She especially likes pop. But her collection also contains many other styles of music.
He: Quinn likes music. He mostly likes pop. But his collection also contains many other styles of music.
No pronouns
Certain people don’t use pronouns for themselves. Then we can just use the name. If we don’t know the person or don’t know the name, then we can also describe them without using gendered words.
Examples:
Use name: Quinn likes music. Quinn especially likes pop. But Quinn’s collection also includes many other styles of music.
Describe person: The person [The person] with the blue jumper has a big music collection.
Using the “singular they” – also in German
In English-speaking countries, the gender-neutral “singular they” has become established. Experts agree that this use of they is correct English and was also used by Shakespeare, for example. Now, more and more people are beginning to use the “they” for themselves in German as well.
Examples:
English: Quinn likes music. They like pop most of all. But their collection also contains many other music styles.
German: Quinn mag Musik. They mag vor allem Pop. Aber their Sammlung enthält auch viele andere Musikstile.
Neopronouns in German
Neopronouns are neologisms used to refer to non-binary persons. These are relatively new solutions to this linguistic challenge, which has existed for much longer, but is now being increasingly addressed.
In this context, it is also important to understand that every word is “invented” and language is always changing. In 2009, “Instagram” was not really a word. But today there are no discussions about whether it is a word or not. Certain neopronoms, however, have been around longer than Instagram.
A small selection of neopronouns:
Dey pronouns: Quinn likes music. Dey especially like pop. But their collection also includes many other styles of music.
Hen pronouns: Quinn likes music. Hen mainly likes pop. But hens collection also contains many other styles of music.
Em pronouns: Quinn likes music. Em mostly likes pop. But em’s collection also contains many other styles of music.
En pronouns: Quinn likes music. En mainly likes pop. But en’s collection also contains many other styles of music.
Nin pronoun_: Quinn likes music. Nin mainly likes pop. But nimse collection also contains many other styles of music.
Sier pronoun_: Quinn likes music. Sier mainly likes pop. But this collection also contains many other styles of music.
Xier pronouns: Quinn likes music. Xier mainly likes pop. But xis collection also contains many other styles of music.
Sources:
https://geschlechtsneutral.net/https://www.nonbinary.ch/pronomen-anwendung/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/NichtbinC3%A4re_Geschlechtsidentit%C3%A4t