Bavaria, Germany, has enacted a prohibition on the use of gender-sensitive language in educational settings, marking the latest development in a contentious linguistic debate. The state government approved modifications to language regulations governing public institutions, including schools and universities, reported the German news agency dpa on Tuesday.
While some advocate for language reforms aimed at reducing male dominance in German, others view such changes as cumbersome and unwarranted. Advocates for inclusive language have introduced practices such as using a pause or symbol within plural nouns and emphasizing the feminine form for gender diversity.
The revised Bavarian regulation explicitly prohibits the insertion of pauses, asterisks, or colons — all symbols associated with inclusivity — into nouns in official documents, correspondence, or educational instruction. It remains unclear whether violations of these rules by teachers or other state employees will result in penalties.
Florian Herrmann, a key advisor to conservative Bavarian premier Markus Soeder, criticized the promotion of gender-sensitive language as ideological and potentially exclusionary. He emphasized the importance of maintaining clarity and understanding in language while preserving the space for discourse in a liberal society.
