Paris (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron attacked inclusive writing on Monday, accusing without naming it of making the French language “illegible”, during a speech given at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts, on the occasion of the inauguration of the International City of the French Language, the major cultural project of his presidency.
“In this language, the masculine is neutral, we do not need to add periods in the middle of words or hyphens or things to make it illegible,” he declared in a speech on the French language.
Defenders of inclusive language claim that it brings more gender equality to the French language, notably through the use of a midpoint in certain words.
“We must allow this life to live, to be inspired by others, to steal words, including on the other side of the world (…) but also to keep the foundations, the bases of its grammar , the strength of its syntax and not giving in to the spirit of the times,” added Emmanuel Macron.
These statements come as the Senate examines on Monday a bill aimed at “protecting the French language from the abuses of so-called inclusive writing”.
This text, initiated by the right and criticized by part of the left, provides for banning inclusive writing in contracts or instructions for use but also in legal acts.
(Written by Zhifan Liu, edited by Blandine Hénault)
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