Navigating inclusive language around the world: a guide for global businesses
The words we choose matter. Language has the ability to build bridges. Yet it also has the power to create barriers. Using inclusive language means you’re more likely to engage with people in a meaningful way. This is important for anyone hoping to grow their business. But how do you do that on the global stage?
In this blog post, we explore what inclusive language means. Then we’ll consider how language has evolved. We’ll also look at attitudes to inclusive language across the globe. Finally, we’ll show how language professionals can:
- help you reach your target markets
- do so in a culturally sensitive way
- provide ongoing support as language evolves in your target markets
Content note: This blog contains sensitive language for illustrative purposes only.
What is inclusive language?
Inclusive language is a way of communicating that makes everyone feel respected. It means avoiding words and expressions that some groups of people consider offensive.
Why does inclusive language matter?
Language is powerful. It shapes attitudes and behaviours. What’s more, opting to use offensive words means they remain in our lexicon, reinforcing bias. So, ask yourself whether your word choices are:
- sexist
- racist
- biased
- prejudiced
- infantilising
- condescending
- derogatory
- stigmatising
Choosing our words with care helps foster equality, diversity and inclusion. When each of us considers the effect of our word choices on others, we can build a more compassionate world.
Why now?
Language is always evolving. And around the world, languages evolve at different rates. Expressions that may once have been acceptable may not be now. What’s more, some people are now reclaiming labels that were once used against them to reduce their power to harm. This means that there are no hard-and-fast rules. We also need to be willing to learn and adapt as we become more enlightened as a society.
Examples of inclusive and non-inclusive language
The examples below will help you to start thinking critically about language. They may also help you to address unconscious bias.
Age
Ageism is stereotyping and discrimination based on age. People are living longer, and so perceptions of what defines old age are changing. Certain words and phrases can reinforce negative stereotypes about older adults. Even apparently positive expressions like young at heart can be problematic. Here are some guidelines for referring to age with inclusivity in mind:
| Use | Avoid |
| adults over 60, older adults, older people | seniors, the elderly, senior, old, elderly, senior citizens, the aged, old person |
| experienced, thoughtful, knowledgeable, energetic, optimistic, open-minded | weak, frail, vulnerable, senile, old-school |
Ability and disability
Ableism is discrimination or prejudice against disabled people. Ableist language refers to language that is derogatory or negative about disability. Many negative terms relating to disability have roots in eugenics. Understandably, disabled people find these terms deeply offensive.
Our word choices influence how society perceives disabled people. Words such as sufferer or victim may elicit pity. Similarly, euphemistic phrases such as differently abled trivialise an individual’s lived experience. Inspiration porn, that is, emotive narratives of overcoming adversity, is also a form of ableism.
The word disability itself isn’t pejorative. When we communicate about people with disabilities, we should recognise their humanity first. It’s equally important to ask how people would like to be described.
Person-first language
The aim of person-first language is to emphasise the person and not define them by a characteristic. The structure of person-first language places less emphasis on the description. Compare a person with epilepsy with an epileptic.
Identity-first language
Identity-first language doesn’t separate people from their condition. It’s a way of referring to people that emphasises what they feel is intrinsic to their identity. Compare an autistic person with a person with autism.
The intent of both forms of language is to respect. However, groups who favour one form often have strong objections to the other form. As a result, it’s a good idea to check whether mentioning the disability is relevant. And if so, then it’s best to ask how people would like to be described.
| Use | Avoid |
| person with a disability, disabled person, disabled | handicapped, invalid, afflicted, victim, tragic |
| people without disabilities | normal, healthy, able-bodied |
| wheelchair user | wheelchair-bound, confined to a wheelchair |
| people with learning or cognitive disabilities | stupid, mentally handicapped |
| people with mental health disabilities | crazy, mad |
Be mindful of phrases like to blindly follow advice or fell on deaf ears. They are inappropriate and hurtful. Try to find alternative ways to express yourself. For example, you could say to recklessly follow advice or was disregarded instead.
Race and ethnicity
There’s no consensus on language to discuss issues relating to race and ethnicity. Even the most frequently used words can hold different meanings for different people and spark tension. Nevertheless, it’s vital to continue to engage in dialogue to find language that includes and respects. Below is a short list to get you thinking about microaggressions, misappropriation and history.
| Use | Avoid |
| meeting | powwow |
| community | tribe |
| expert | guru |
| hot spot | mecca |
| Mumbai | Bombay |
| primary/secondary | master/slave (in technology) |
Our recommendation? Read widely. Check with people from varied backgrounds. Be aware of events and changing demographic trends that may cast a different light on existing terms. Consult style guides and glossaries for the latest guidance. We have included a list of excellent resources at the end of this blog.
Socioeconomic status
Be mindful of outdated words that perpetuate inequality on the basis of class. Try reframing your language by mentioning income brackets or access to resources.
| Use | Avoid |
| people whose incomes are below the poverty threshold | poor people |
| skilled tradesperson | blue-collar worker |
| salaried professional, office worker | white-collar worker |
| corporate crime | white-collar crime |
| low-income neighbourhood | slum |
| people experiencing housing insecurity or food insecurity | homeless people |
What does gender-neutral language mean?
Gender-neutral language means using words and phrases that do not mention someone’s gender specifically. It’s also known as gender-inclusive language. Gender-neutral language aims to include and respect everyone, regardless of how they identify.
Why gender-neutral language is important
The language we use has an impact on the way we think and act. With this in mind, using gender-neutral language can go a long way towards increasing equality.
Examples of gender-neutral English
Perhaps the greatest progress in achieving gender-neutrality has taken place in the workplace. Categorising roles along gender lines has become outdated, and so gendered terms have fallen out of favour. In turn, this has helped quash gender biases about occupations. For instance, consider how the neutral terms on the left have become part of everyday language:
| Use | Avoid |
| firefighter | fireman, firewoman |
| flight attendant | stewardess, steward |
| chairperson | chairwoman, chairman |
| police officer | policeman, policewoman |
Similarly, it has now become widely accepted to use the pronoun they to refer to one person instead of he or she. This comes in handy in situations when gender is unknown or not relevant. Singular they is respectful to non-binary individuals, too. So, wherever possible, give people the opportunity to tell you their pronouns. Don’t make assumptions.
Gender-neutral language around the world
English, the world’s most spoken language, has very few gender markers compared to other languages. But around half of the world’s languages do have grammatical gender. This has prompted some people to ask whether genderless language has helped advance gender equality.
Researchers at the University of Utah also wanted to know. They analysed huge volumes of text across 45 world languages with an NLP method to look for signs of gender prejudice. They found that gender prejudice occurs more in gendered rather than genderless languages.
So, where does that leave us? How are languages around the world becoming more inclusive?
Mandarin Chinese: one billion speakers
The world’s second most spoken language doesn’t apply gender to nouns, though some Chinese characters do carry gendered meanings. The third-person pronouns for he and she are both pronounced in the same way (tā). This means that a distinction between genders only becomes apparent in writing. Many other Asian languages, including Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese, are also genderless languages.
Gender-neutral language in Spanish-speaking countries
Spanish, another major world language, is gendered. Spanish nouns are either masculine (often ending in -o) or feminine (often ending in -a). Some have suggested that it is possible to make nouns with these word endings inclusive by replacing them with an @ symbol, a letter x or a letter e. For example, the word Latinx describes a person of Latin American origin. The -x suffix makes the person’s gender unknown. Advocates for inclusive language have also proposed a third-person pronoun (elle / elles). These gender-neutral forms are gaining popularity.
However, the Real Academia Española has categorically rejected inclusive language. They published a statement to this effect in March 2024. They insist that artificially forcing Spanish grammar and lexicon is not the way to achieve gender equality.
Gender-neutral language in French-speaking countries
Like Spanish, French is also a gendered language. This means that you have to specify the gender of the object or the person you’re referring to. And when you talk about a mixed group, the masculine form prevails. As a result, these grammatical rules make it hard to include everyone. Nevertheless, there are many strategies to make French more inclusive:
- Choosing gender-neutral pronouns such as iel or ille instead of il (he) or elle (she).
- Opting for words that are the same in both masculine and feminine forms, such as collègue (colleague).
- Using special characters to include both masculine and feminine endings in one word, for example:
- Parentheses: les étudiant(e)s
- Square brackets: les étudiant[e]s
- Hyphen: les étudiant-e-s
- Slash: les étudiant/e/s
- Middle dot: les étudiant·e·s
- Dot: les étudiant.e.s
Canada’s Office québécois de la langue française favours parentheses or square brackets.
However, in France, the Académie française has warned against inclusive language. The guardians of the French language have expressed concerns about its intelligibility. They also say it causes pronunciation difficulties. The French Ministry of National Education followed suit in 2021 by banning the teaching of inclusive language in schools.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Belgium, non-gendered job titles have become the norm.
Gender-neutral language in German-speaking countries
German uses three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. There have been calls to make German more inclusive since the 1990s. Supporters of inclusive language have suggested various solutions. Perhaps the best known is the Gendersternchen, the gender star. This asterisk appears just before the feminine noun ending: Kolleg*innen (colleagues). Duden, the influential dictionary of the German language, began including these noun forms in its online edition in 2021.
Efforts to make language more inclusive have sparked fierce debate in Germany. The northern city of Hanover first adopted inclusive language in its official documents in 2019. Further south, the state of Bavaria decided to limit the use of gender-neutral language in March 2024. Opponents of inclusive language say the gender star is ugly to read and hard to pronounce. They also fear these changes are ideologically driven.
“New words can spread like wildfire thanks to social media – you only have to look at ‘mansplaining’ and ‘milkshake duck’ to see language evolution at work.”
Susie Dent, lexicographer
The ongoing need for language professionals
Languages evolve despite the best efforts of traditionalists. We have technology, migration and trade to thank for this.
While LLMs may at first appear to break down language barriers, remember how they have been built. They are based on vast amounts of text data gathered from the internet and other sources. LLMs can show bias because they learn from human-generated content, which contains biases.
Even now, as we all become more aware of the need for inclusive language, none of us is perfect. We can all have gaps in understanding or unconscious bias. We can all help each other to communicate in a way that is more inclusive. And nobody is better placed to guide global businesses in this effort than language professionals.
For example, a copy-editor will be able to point out aspects of your source text that are not inclusive. A translator will be able to advise on the adoption of inclusive language in your target market, even if your source text is designed for a market with a different degree of inclusivity. Language technologists will be able to remove outdated language from translation memories. Specialist typesetting teams will be able to advise on visuals that are not appropriate for your target market. Without a doubt, they all have a vital, ongoing role in helping global businesses to communicate in a respectful, inclusive way.
A final note
Languages around the world are adopting inclusive forms at varying rates. More than ever before, global businesses need trusted language professionals by their side. At Planet Languages, we provide ongoing cultural and linguistic consultancy to our clients. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you with your inclusive language needs, contact us today.
