This decision is part of a broader approach aimed at favoring “ a language understandable by all and respectful of the rules» grammatical. Used to include both masculine and feminine forms in words such as “student”, the midpoint is seen by its supporters as a tool for linguistic equality.
However, for its detractors, it constitutes an obstacle to reading and mastering the rules of French, particularly among younger students. According to Valérie Glatigny, “ modifying writing to make it inclusive without taking into account spelling and grammatical rules complicates learning French », shares theRTBF.
This question had in fact already been raised in July, in the political program that the governments of Wallonia (from a right and center right coalition) and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (from the same coalition) wish to apply to the over the next five years.
Indeed, they had already announced in their majority agreement the abandonment of inclusive writing in official communications, but without explicitly mentioning the midpoint until now.
In these regional policy declarations (DPR) and community policy declarations (DPC), we can read in particular: “Modifying writing with the aim of making it more inclusive, without taking into account grammatical or spelling rules, complicates access to information for the most vulnerable citizens, particularly in their contacts with administrations and complicates the learning the French language“. The ban is therefore not so surprising, on the contrary: it is part of the continuity of an announced policy.
Feminism: yes, middle line: no
As a reminder, inclusive writing aims to make gender diversity visible in language, and by extension, to promote symbolic equality between men and women. Its adoption responds to the desire to reform a language perceived as historically sexist, where the masculine dominates the feminine in grammatical rules (the so-called “rule ofprevalence of male »).
By feminizing professional terms or using neutral formulas, inclusive writing seeks to reflect the evolution of mentalities and societies towards greater equality.
However, this ban for the Belgian minister does not call into question the feminization of titles, professions and functions adopted in 2022. “This reform represents a major step forward», she clarified, emphasizing that the feminization of language is maintained, unlike inclusive writing involving typographic modifications.
For supporters of inclusive writing, this decision slows down progress towards a more egalitarian representation of genders in language. They consider that refusing the use of the midpoint amounts to ignoring the dynamics of language evolution in a social context where diversity must be better reflected.
France before Belgium
In France, a similar debate has animated the political and educational spheres. In October 2023, the Senate adopted a bill aimed at “fight against excesses» of inclusive writing. However, this remains awaiting examination by the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education of the National Assembly and by the National Assembly itself.
READ – In the National Assembly, the RN “facho” with the French language
A lot of ink has been spilled over these debates. In France, for example in 2023, students invoked the principle of “academic freedom» to oppose bans or recommendations against the use of inclusive writing.
To date, no precise timetable for the application of the midpoint ban has been communicated in Belgium.
Photo credits: Antonio Ponte/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
By Clotilde Martin
Contact : [email protected]
