Lively discussions in perspective: While Emmanuel Macron recalled his commitment to the “fundamentals” of the French language, on Monday evening in France the Senate is considering a bill aimed at protecting French “from the abuses of the so-called inclusive writing”, a text classified by the left as “regressive”.
• Also read: Success at the expense of mental health
• Also read: Public funding: PSPP says private schools still have their place in Quebec
• Also read: Live and let live: Parti Québécois reflections on gender identity and sexual diversity
On the day of the inauguration of the International City of the French Language by the President of the Republic in the restored castle of Villers-Cotterêts, the coincidence of the calendar gives a certain echo to the work of the senatorial right, which promises quite a bit of excitement in debates in the plenary hall from 9:30 p.m.
“We must let this (French) language live (…), but also preserve its foundations, the foundations of its grammar, the strength of its syntax and not give in to the spirit of the times,” Emmanuel Macron started from this Aisne castle at midday out of.
“In this language, the masculine is neuter, we do not need to add periods in the middle of words or hyphens or other things to make it readable,” the head of state added in a statement. Thinly veiled insult to inclusive writing.
The text by Les Républicains Senator Pascale Gruny is even more explicit: it proposes to ban this practice “in all cases where the legislature (and possibly the regulator) requires a document in French”.
A broad spectrum is attacked: instructions for use, employment contracts, internal company regulations, but also legal acts that would then be considered inadmissible or void if the measure were applied.
The senators are calling for a ban on “grammatical words” that represent neologisms such as “iel,” a contraction of “he” and “she,” or “celeux,” a contraction of “celles” and “those.”
Center point, double flexion
“It is a practice that is exactly contrary to inclusion,” pleads the rapporteur (at LR) Cédric Vial to the AFP. “In fact, those most affected by its use are people with disabilities and illiterates or those who suffer from dyslexia.”
The text, approved and even reaffirmed in committee on Wednesday, sparks outrage among parts of the left. “It is an unconstitutional, regressive and reactionary text that is part of a long-standing conservative trend in the fight against the visibility of women,” insulted the socialist senator Yan Chantrel.
Described by the French Academy as a “mortal danger” but, for its supporters, conversely a tool to combat gender inequality, “so-called inclusive” writing, according to the author of the text, refers to “editorial and typographical words intended to introduce grammar. “Words that constitute neologisms, or to replace the use of the masculine form, when used in a general sense, with a spelling that emphasizes the existence of a feminine form.
The entire interpretation lies in what this term “generic masculine” encompasses. For example, for the rapporteur there is “no problem” with the use of the “double inflection”, which aims to decline the feminine counterpart of a word, such as “the senators and the senators” instead of “the senators”.
The famous center point like in “senateur.rice.s” is clearly targeted. This is already banned in education by a 2021 circular from former Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer.
Identity card
Mr Chantrel pointed out that the current wording of the text would invalidate all identity documents issued in the old format, which contains the words “born on” as the date of birth. Mr. Vial assures him that this does not fall within the scope of a “generic masculine.”
The bill has a good chance of being passed because the right and center dominate the upper house, which would be a first in parliament. However, there is no guarantee that it will be taken up by the assembly later: a similar proposal from the National Assembly was actually withdrawn during consideration in October as it headed for rejection.
The ban on inclusive writing can currently be found in a circular from former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe from 2017. In it, ministers were “invited” not to use so-called inclusive writing, particularly in texts to be published in the Official Journal of the French Republic “.