How to adapt inclusive language to each language

Inclusive language not only respects diversity, it also shapes people's perception of the world. By avoiding stereotypes, it offers fairer and more respectful communication, which is essential in this era of multiculturalism and global marketing. The theory of linguistic relativity proposes that the language and words we use influence our behaviour and thoughts. For example, the third-person pronoun "they" can be used in a singular sense to refer to a person whose gender is unknown or non-binary. Similarly, the Swedish pronoun "hen" serves to refer to a person without mentioning their gender. Through language, these linguistic practices materialise the concept of gender identity, which might be difficult to conceptualise without the existence of associated words. Gender identity can remain an obscure subject for some because they do not feel concerned by this issue. However, words relating to this concept reinforce its significance and highlight this reality in the mind of society. Therefore, inclusive language plays a role not only in respecting diversity, but also in developing society's thinking and tolerance on subjects that have become essential.

The specific challenges of inclusive translation

Some languages, such as Finnish, do not have grammatical gender. This facilitates the use of inclusive language since there is no need to adapt words according to the gender of the person referred to. Conversely, other languages that use grammatical gender, such as French, require adaptations in order to respect inclusive writing.

Moreover, using machine translation platforms is not recommended for promoting inclusivity. Indeed, these are biased translation tools that often reproduce gender stereotypes. For example, when translating the word "nurse" into French, machine translators tend to use the feminine form "infirmière", even without context about the nurse's gender, simply because they perpetuate the stereotype that this profession is predominantly practised by women.

Finally, the lack of universal standards makes translating inclusive writing all the more challenging. Conventions vary greatly depending on countries and cultures. Thus, translating this type of text requires a deep knowledge of the culture and inclusive writing conventions in both the source and target languages.

Translating gender neutrality: a technical and ethical challenge

In a world where languages structure thought and shape social representations, translating gender neutrality is not just a simple linguistic exercise. It is both a technical challenge, as grammatical systems do not all have the same tools to express the neuter, and an ethical one, as it involves respecting identities while also preserving the transmission of the message. Faced with cultural resistance to change, the specific nuances of target languages and the need to preserve the original meaning and intention of the source text, the translator undertakes a sensitive task, which can be approached through different techniques:

• Transcreation: It involves adapting a message rather than translating it word for word, preserving its intention, tone and cultural dimension. To illustrate this process in the context of inclusive language, the word "student" can be translated into French as"élève", a gender-neutral term that includes both male and female students, rather than "étudiant" (masculine noun).
• Linguistic techniques: There are different techniques that allow for inclusive language. Among them, epicene pronouns are pronouns that do not mark grammatical gender. In 2019, the gender-neutral use of the pronoun "they" and the neologism "themself" were added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. For example, in the sentence "He wanted the dog for himself", the masculine pronouns "he" and "himself" can be replaced by "they" and "themself" respectively to remain neutral towards the person's gender. Although not yet been standardised, its widespread use reflects an evolution of progressive thinking and may eventually become institutionally accepted over time. To avoid specifying someone's gender, we can also use syntactic neutralisation, that is, substituting a gendered noun with a collective or abstract noun. For example, instead of "policeman" or "policewoman", we can use the term that does not express gender such as "police officer".
• Mixed solutions: This technique consists of choosing formulations that include all genders. As a result, we can avoid the generic use of the male pronoun by completely rephrasing the sentence. For example, instead of "the teacher shall mark his students' test", the plural form can be used ("teachers shall mark their students' test") or the passive ("the tests shall be marked by the teacher"). If the above strategies do not work, then the use of the duplicate form "he or she" is allowed as long as it is done sparingly and is not repeated within the same sentence.

The limitations and controversies around inclusive writing

Inclusive writing is not unanimously accepted and some express reservations about its use. Some critics of inclusive writing believe that it hinders communication. Adding particles and words to make a text inclusive sometimes lowers its readability, and the new associated typography requires extra effort to interpret its meaning. If inclusive language is poorly incorporated, it directly impacts the fluidity of the text.

Moreover, officially incorporating inclusivity in a language would require a fundamental restructuring of grammatical rules related to gender, agreement, syntax and typography. This would have a significant cultural and financial impact, as it entails guiding people who are accustomed to the language in its current state to transition to its new usage, as well as adapting the education of new generations. Indeed, it would require revising all manuals, resources and school curricula already in place. Therefore, this transition would require both a massive awareness campaign and a huge financial investment.

Some express reservations about its use, especially language regulators such as the Académie Française in the case of French. Unlike English, many other languages are governed by authoritative bodies that regulate linguistic standards and promote the correct use of language. Although popular usage has a significant impact on the evolution of a language, these linguistic institutions tend to be conservative and prioritise preserving the authentic form of the language. These language regulators act as references and not as judges of right and wrong; however, their decisions can impact popular opinion and the speed at which linguistic changes occur.

Finally, the adoption of inclusive language varies greatly depending on professional sectors, countries and even cultures. These divergences make it difficult to translate from one language to another when they do not share the same standards in terms of inclusive writing. As a result, translators must show great adaptability in order to respect the linguistic rules as well as the different cultures involved.

Why hire an agency specialising in inclusive communication?

Hiring an agency specialised in inclusive communication offers several major advantages. Firstly, it ensures linguistic and cultural compliance, avoiding awkward formulations or unintentionally discriminatory messages. The technical expertise of these agencies also guarantees the choice of linguistic strategies adapted to the target audiences, allowing for fairer and more representative communication.

Agencies specialised in inclusive writing go the extra mile by offering translations that follow principles of equality and promote visibility of identities. They implement specific tools and methods, such as preforming audits of existing texts, creating inclusive editorial guidelines, organizing dedicated training for editorial teams and using automatic converter technologies like Inclusi to adapt content according to different styles of inclusive writing (e.g. transcreation, rephrasing, use of epicene pronouns, etc.). The agency also supports its clients in drafting inclusive versions of official documents, marketing materials or web content, all while ensuring readability and accessibility.

Finally, on a strategic level, adopting an inclusive approach helps to strengthen brand image by conveying values of openness, respect and social commitment. This allows companies to position themselves as responsible stakeholders that are attentive to contemporary issues of diversity and inclusion.

Adapting inclusive language to each language is much more than a matter of wording: it is a strategic, ethical and technical commitment. By combining linguistic adaptation, cultural sensitivity and expertise, a specialised agency guarantees a clear, inclusive and impactful message. To learn more about our translation services and our translation agency, contact us today!