Understanding how inclusive writing can be implemented in French translations

Why is inclusive writing an issue in French?

Inclusive writing fundamentally aims at embracing diversity and ensuring that the written language reflects and respects the various identities within societies. But here is the problem: French is a non-inclusive language by default. How is it non-inclusive? Well, in French the masculine takes precedence over the feminine. This means that if you are talking about one hundred women and one man, you have to use the masculine form to refer to this group of people. Is that fair? Maybe not, but these are the grammatical rules of the French language.

Now you understand why most French texts are probably not inclusive by default. And you can imagine that it is not possible to revolutionise the French language and anarchically change the rules of French grammar. Instead it is  about finding strategies to make French translations more inclusive, because these kinds of grammar rules can give readers the impression that the author refers only to men. They are also very confusing for readers who do not conform to binary gender identities and therefore feel excluded, because they do not identify with the masculine or feminine pronouns used in French, for example.

How to implement inclusive writing in French translations?

To implement inclusive writing in French translations, several key principles must be followed. First and foremost, the use of inclusive language should break away from reinforcing stereotypes or biases. Here are some strategies to consider:

• Use gender-neutral terms and collective nouns: always opt for epicene terms that do not refer to a specific gender. For example, 'service client' should be replaced by 'service clientèle' to avoid determining gender. Collective nouns such as 'personne' instead of 'homme' or 'femme' should also be used to avoid explicitly favoring a gender form.

• Adopt abbreviations wisely: utilising abbreviations such as 'iels' (they, for mixed gender or non-binary subjects) can convey inclusivity. However, ensure the abbreviation is clear and comprehensible for the target audience, as these abbreviations have not been officially approved by the Académie Française.

• Emphasise clarity and readability: while inclusivity is paramount, maintaining clarity and readability in your translation is equally essential. Overly complex constructions can alienate readers so it is important to balance inclusivity with ease of understanding.

• Be aware of cultural context: language reflects culture, and in some instances, incorporating some strategies of inclusive writing may vary based on the text's purpose and audience. Familiarising yourself with the cultural nuances of your target demographic is essential for effective communication.

• Use the 'point médian': it is possible to employ constructions such as 'les étudiant·e·s' with these dots at the end of a word to indicate and separate all possible gender-related endings if you want to inform the reader that the word actually includes the masculine and feminine endings, in a context where it would traditionally be written in the masculine form only. It is a common technique adopted by many in France but also in Canada and other French-speaking places in the world, although still not officially approved by the Académie Française.

• Rephrase using passive voice when possible : to avoid naming the subject, it is possible to use the passive voice when this change doesn't really affect the message : 'les conférenciers sont tenus de s'enregistrer dans la salle 12' can also be written 'l'enregistrement se fait dans la salle 12' without confusing the reader.

In conclusion, inclusive writing in French serves as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between language and gender equality. By avoiding binary expressions, adopting collective words, using thoughtful abbreviations, and gender-neutral word, translators can create a more equitable and respectful narrative. Embracing inclusive writing practices in translation not only promotes respect and recognition for diverse identities but also enhances the overall quality and accessibility of written documents. If you want your translations to resonate and reflect inclusiveness, implementing these principles is a step in the right direction.

An excellent article to know more about the usage of inclusive writing in academic spheres in France would be 'L’écriture inclusive et ses usages dans les revues de sciences humaines et sociales' by Marie Loison, Olivia Samuel and François Théron, available online  https://journals.openedition.org/revss/8888

***Disclaimer: Although this content is produced by a human being, the author has enlisted the help of machine translation to make some sentences of this text more pleasant to read for an English-speaking readership.