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Gender neutral language in Dutch: Difference between revisions

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Gender neutral language in Dutch (edit)

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==Pronouns==
==Pronouns==
=== Overview ===
==== '''Direct or subjective''' ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Gendered (subjective or direct reference)
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!f
!she
!her
!her
!hers
!~its
!herself
|-
|
|zij
|haar
|haar, d'r
|het hare
|zich
|zichzelf
|-
!m
!he
!him
!his
!his
!~its
!himself
|-
|
|hij
|hem
|zijn, z'n
|het zijne
|zich
|zichzelf
|}
|}
How to read the chosen fonts:
Official;
<u>official/prevalent in some language circles;</u>
''synthetic.''
Sorted 1st-last based on most use to least popular.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Gender neutral pronouns in Dutch (all singular)
|Grammatical gender (subjective or direct reference)
|nom.
|accus.
|poss.
|refl. poss
|refl. nom
|refl.
|-
!x
!they, who, that
!them, that person
!their, that person's
!theirs
!~its
!themself
|-
|
|<u>die</u>, ''hen, ze''
|diegene, ''hen, die''
|de<sup>1</sup>, diens, <u>hun</u>
|van diegene'','' een eigen'', hun eigen, van hen, het hunne''
|zich
|zichzelf
|-
!Objects, concepts and non-domestic animals (traditionally)
!it
!(for) it
!its
!its own, for it
!~its
!itself
|-
|
|het, dat, wat
|hem, ''het''
|zijn, een<sup>2</sup>
|zijn eigen, een eigen, <u>hun eigen</u>
|zich, het, dat
|hetgeen, datgeen, hetzelf, zichzelf
|}
<sup>1</sup>de (the), officially, can be used to avoid pronoun use in casual ways, for example when the listener has neutralsceptic views; "Jan is ''de'' portemonnee vergeten" (Jan forgot ''the'' wallet).
<sup>2</sup>een (a or an), officially, can be used in the same sense; singular "Friesland heeft een eigen taal" (Friesland has ''an'' own language); plural "Ieder gebouw heeft ''een'' eigen voorziening" (every building has ''an'' own provision)
==== '''Indirect or objective''' ====
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Gendered (objective or indirect reference)
|-
|
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!f
!who
!whom
!whose
|-
|
|wie
|aan wie
|wier
|-
!m
!who
!whom
!whose
|-
|
|wie
|aan wie
|wiens (plural wier)
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|Grammatical gender (objective or indirect reference)
|obj. nom
|obj. acc.
|obj. poss.
|-
!x
!who
!whom
!whose
|-
|
|wie
|aan wie
|wiens (plural wier)
|-
!Objects, concepts and non-domestic animals (traditionally)
!which
!to which
!of which
|-
|
|dat, wat die, dit, deze
|waaraan, wat, dat, aan wat
|waarvan, <u>wiens, (plural wier) (personifying)</u>
|}
=== '''Use of name''' ===
Like in English, repeating someone's name in third person is very natural to avoid pronoun use. Just like one would for two females or for two females; using pronouns without clear reference to who is usually the prime reason to use names. In genderneutral speech, this problem is very regular.
=== '''Use of -'s, -s and -'''' ===
Unlike English, Dutch does not require each name to add an -s to when creating a possesive marker. Because of different pronunciation rules, names that end with a-, e-, i-, o-, u-, or y- need an -'s when making posessive. When the name ends at an s-, only an ''<nowiki/>''' is marked. 
"Ik heb op Hanna's hond gepast." (I watched over Hannas dog)
"Ricky's eerste dans vanavond!" (Rickys first dance tonight!)
"De paus' aankondiging sprak dat katholieke priesters nu ook homohuwelijken mogen zegen." (The Pope's announcement stated that Catholic priests are now also permitted to bless same-sex marriages.)
=== '''Official use''' ===
The Dutch language does not have any official gender-neutral pronouns, although [[nonbinary]] people have adopted other sets of pre-existing pronouns, as well as [[neopronouns]], to work around this issue. A survey by Transgender Netwerk Nederland (''Transgender Network Netherlands'') among 500 people showed that '''hen / hen / hun''' ("they/them/theirs") was in that research the most popular pronoun set, although other options suggested to include ''die'' ("that/who") <ref>https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/non-binair-voornaamwoord-uitslag/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520060910/https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/non-binair-voornaamwoord-uitslag/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>, making '''die / hen / hun'''. Alternatively, '''die / die / diens''' is also an option used. Various other inflections can also be replaced by the corresponding form of "die", depending on the individual's preferences and how natural the sentence sounds in the person's regiolect. For example, some might prefer '''die / hen / diens''' to distinguish the meaning of die and hen.
The Dutch language does not have any official gender-neutral pronouns, although [[nonbinary]] people have adopted other sets of pre-existing pronouns, as well as [[neopronouns]], to work around this issue. A survey by Transgender Netwerk Nederland (''Transgender Network Netherlands'') among 500 people showed that '''hen / hen / hun''' ("they/them/theirs") was in that research the most popular pronoun set, although other options suggested to include ''die'' ("that/who") <ref>https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/non-binair-voornaamwoord-uitslag/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230520060910/https://www.transgendernetwerk.nl/non-binair-voornaamwoord-uitslag/ Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>, making '''die / hen / hun'''. Alternatively, '''die / die / diens''' is also an option used. Various other inflections can also be replaced by the corresponding form of "die", depending on the individual's preferences and how natural the sentence sounds in the person's regiolect. For example, some might prefer '''die / hen / diens''' to distinguish the meaning of die and hen.


When spoken, "hen" can really sound like "hem" (him). Therefore the correct pronounciation is really essential to differentiate someone's preferences.


The pronoun "die" is also a normal genderneutral pronoun in the dialects spoken in regions like Twente, de Achterhoek and Drenthe, though in some specific regions only meaning "he". Sometimes "die" is even written as pronounced /tie/, for example when following a word ending with a /d/ or /t/ sound. (Ex. "Den hat tie dat nie meui'n zegg'n", "Then they shouldn't have said that.")  [https://www.mijnwoordenboek.nl/dialect/Twents]
When spoken, "hen" can really sound like "hem" (him). Therefore the correct pronounciation is really essential to differentiate between ''hen'' and ''hem''.
 
The pronoun "die" is also a normal genderneutral pronoun in the dialects spoken in regions like Twente, de Achterhoek and Drenthe, though in some specific regions only meaning "he". Sometimes "die" is even written as pronounced /tie/, for example when following a word ending with a /d/ or /t/ sound. (Ex. "Den hat tie dat nie meui'n zegg'n", "Then they shouldn't have said that.")  [https://www.mijnwoordenboek.nl/dialect/Twents] Also among ex-colonial migrants, '''die''' is used a lot in common language (as Papiamento and Malay languages don't use gendered pronouns, and, coincidentally, the pronouns for singular they in both those language groups look like ''die''; ''e'' (pronounced /''ei''/) in Papiamento, ''dia'' in Malay languages, variations exist.)
 
 
The use of genderneutral pronouns is also increasingly adopted by [[Gender nihilism|gender nihilists]], to increase usage with the goal of normalizing these words. Others could for example choose to use neutral pronouns on just anyone. This idea is not meant to assume that everyone is genderqueer, but rather to assume that genderneutral pronouns are norm and genderized pronouns are rather something archaic. This process is, however, slow, keeping in mind that genderneutral pronoun options are still not known to all citizens (see #Use of gender and genus in official documents and education).
 
Arguments for '''hen''' as first person:
 
-It sounds natural (think about the old pronoun "men")
 
-Hen is also a synthetic genderneutral pronoun in other Germanic languages, like Swedish and German.
 
-The traditional use of hen is socially in the process of being replaced with ''hun'', meaning the traditional use is already fading away''.''
 
Arguments against '''hen''' as first person:
 
''-''Hen is traditionally (and still officially) used as accusative form of ''ze.''
 
-By those who support the use of hen as accusative of ze, it can be seen as poor language use.
 


Arguments for '''die''' as first person:


The use of genderneutral pronouns is also increasingly adopted by certain progessive cis people, to increase usage with the goal of normalizing these words. Others could for example choose to use neutral pronouns on just anyone, sometimes with the exception of people who put pressure on the fact that they want to be called a he or she. This idea is not meant to assume that everyone is genderqueer, but rather to assume that genderneutral pronouns are norm and genderized pronouns are rather something archaic. This process is, however, slow, keeping in mind that genderneutral pronoun options are still not known to all citizens (see #Use of gender and genus in official documents and education).
-Die means that or who.
 
-Die is already used in east-Dutch dialects as a genderneutral pronoun.
 
-Die is already in use in some ex-colonial migrant families, primarily those whose tongue is not natively Dutch.
 
Arguments against '''die''' as first person:
 
-Die already has two other official uses: that and who.
 
-In a few dialect regions, die is used as a substitute for the male pronoun ''hij''. 
 
-It does not sound natural, primarily to native Dutch people from the Randstad and from Friesland.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
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|-
|-
|Nominative
|Nominative
|Wanneer ik iemand een grap vertel, lacht die/hen.
|Wanneer ik iemand een grap vertel, lacht die(gene).
|-
|-
|Accusative
|Accusative
|Wanneer ik een vriend begroet, geef ik die/hen een knuffel.
|Wanneer ik een vriend begroet, geef ik hen een knuffel.
|-
|-
|Pronominal possessive
|Pronominal possessive
|Wanneer iemand niet naar de kapper gaat, wordt diens/hun haar lang.
|Wanneer iemand niet naar de kapper gaat, wordt diens haar lang.
|-
|-
|Predicative possesive
|Predicative possesive
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===Use of "ze"===
===Use of "ze"===
Use of "ze" is also possible in most cases, its use generally considered informal<ref>https://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/374 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220322025839/https://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/374 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>. It works the same as "they" in English, you use it as if you were referring to a group of people and conjugate the verb accordingly.
Use of "ze" is also possible in most cases, altough its use generally considered informal<ref>https://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/374 [https://web.archive.org/web/20220322025839/https://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/374 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>. It works the same as "they" in English, you use it as if you were referring to a group of people and conjugate the verb accordingly.


There is discussion around the use of "ze", since the word for she is also "ze". Some would argue that this is easy to distinct since the verb changes in plural form, too. Thus, making it easier to differentiate.
There is discussion around the use of "ze", since the word for she is also "ze". Some would argue that this is easy to distinct since the verb changes in plural form, too. Thus, making it easier to differentiate.
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|Elk kind voedt zichzelf.
|Elk kind voedt zichzelf.
|}
|}
=== '''Official genderneutral pronouns or pronoun equivalents''' ===
'''zich, zichzelf''' > equivalent to "them, themself" or "its, itself", although there is no English word for "zich".
'''(een) ieder(s)''' > every person, everyone's lit. each/every/other (one)
'''eigen''' > own
'''zelf''' > self
'''het hunne''' (officially plural) > theirs.
'''diegene''' > that person
'''zo een (zo'n)''' > such a (degredatory)
'''iemand''' > someone
=== '''Not official, still very commonly used genderneutral pronouns''' ===
'''hun (singular) (official: zijn)''' > their (sing.)
example: iedereen heeft hun eigen voorkeur (everyone has their own preference).
'''een (official: zijn)'''> its
singular "Friesland heeft een eigen taal" (Friesland has ''an'' own language);
plural "Ieder gebouw heeft ''een'' eigen voorziening" (every building has ''an'' own provision)
'''de''' '''(official: zijn, haar or diens)''' > their
Jan is ''de'' portemonnee vergeten" (Jan forgot ''the'' wallet).
Iedereen heeft een eigen voorkeur (everyone has their own preference).


==Family and relationship terms==
==Family and relationship terms==
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* '''Barwerker, barpersoon.''' Nonstandard alternatives for barvrouw/barman (barwoman/barman) using the inferred neutral words "-werker" (-worker) and "-persoon" (-person) to make it neutral.
* '''Barwerker, barpersoon.''' Nonstandard alternatives for barvrouw/barman (barwoman/barman) using the inferred neutral words "-werker" (-worker) and "-persoon" (-person) to make it neutral.
* '''Brandweer/Brandweermens, brandweerlieden/brandweermensen.''' Neutral words for brandweervrouw(en)/brandweerman(nen) (firewoman/fireman and firewomen/fireman).
* '''Brandweer/Brandweermens, brandweerlieden/brandweermensen.''' Neutral words for brandweervrouw(en)/brandweerman(nen) (firewoman/fireman and firewomen/fireman).
* '''Huisbaar/Hospite.''' Neutral words for hospita/hospes (property owner).
* '''Huisbaas/Hospite.''' Neutral words for hospita/hospes (property owner). In old Dutch the word 'Huisbaar' was used but in recent times the word 'Huisbaar' has been almost entirely replaced with the word 'Huisbaas' which translates to 'Homeboss'.
* '''Kassamedewerker.''' Neutral words for kassière/cassière/kassier (cashier).
* '''Kassamedewerker.''' Neutral words for kassière/cassière/kassier (cashier).
* '''Leerkracht/Leraar.''' Neutral words for lerares/leraar (teacher).
* '''Leerkracht/Leraar.''' Neutral words for lerares/leraar (teacher).
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|}
|}


== Nouns using a genderized prefix or suffix ==
== Alternatives for nouns using a genderized prefix or suffix ==


* Moedervlek (Birth mark) > Geboortevlek "birth mark"
* Bemanning (crew) > crew, ploeg, personeel
* Moedertaal (Mother tongue/native tongue) > Eigen taal, Geboortetaal "own language, birth/native language"
* Broederliefde (Brotherly love) > Naastenliefde, siblingliefde
* Vaderland (Fatherland/Homeland) > Geboorteland "birth country"
* Damesbroek (Pants without pockets) > Zakloze broek
* Meisjesnaam (Maiden name/ birth family name) > Achternaam bij geboorte "last name at birth"
* Dienstmeisje > Huishouddienst, diener
* Jongensdroom (Lit. Boyhood dream) > Kinderdroom "child's dream"
* Dochteronderneming (subsidiary) > Onder- of kindonderneming
* Omafiets/Damesfiets (Specific bicycle) > Ouderwetse fiets "old school bicycle"
* Huisvrouw > Klusjesmens
* Damesbroek (Pants without pockets) > Zakloze broek "pocketless pants"
* Jongensdroom (Lit. Boyhood dream) > Kinderdroom  
* Men (a somewhat archaic pronoun) (One, people, they) > Mensen/ze "people/they"
* Keukenprinses > Uitbundige kok
* [aantal] man ([amount] of people) > [aantal] mensen
* [aantal] man ([amount] of people) > [aantal] mensen
* Bemanning (crew) > crew, ploeg, personeel "crew, personnel)
* Meisjesnaam (Maiden name/ birth family name) > Achternaam bij geboorte
* Moederskind / Vaderskind (mother's child, father's child) > lieveling van  ... ouder "favourite of ... parent"
* Men (a somewhat archaic pronoun) (One, people, they) > Mensen, ze
* Zusterstam (Sister tribe) > Siblingstam "sibling tribe"
* Moederbedrijf (Parental company) > Ouderbedrijf, bovenbedrijf
* Broederliefde (Brotherly love) > Siblingliefde
* Moederbord (Main board) > Systeembord, ''main board'', mobo
* Moederbedrijf (Parent company) > Ouderbedrijf "parent company"
* Moedermelk (Breast milk) > Borstvoeding
* Dochteronderneming (subsidiary) > kind/onderonderneming "child/under-entreprise"
* Moeder Natuur (Mother Nature) > de (vrije) natuur [God, de Boeddhanatuur, de Dao/Tao]
* Moeder Natuur (Mother Nature) > de (vrije) natuur "the (free/open) nature"  [God, de Boeddhanatuur, de Dao/Tao] (religious)
* Moedertaal (Mother tongue/native tongue) > Ondertaal, eigen taal, geboortetaal
* Waterman (Aquarius) > Aquarius "aquarius
* Moederskind / Vaderskind (mother's child, father's child) > lieveling van  ... ouder
* Paardenmeisje (Horse girl) > Paardenverzorger "horse caregiver"
* Moedervlek (Birth mark) > Geboortevlek
* Moederbord (Main board) > Hoofdbord "head board"
* Nichterig (lit. [f] Cousin-like, meaning: sissy) > Arrogant, verwaand
* Moedermelk (Breast milk) > Borstvoeding "breast nutricion"
* Omafiets/Damesfiets (Specific bicycle) > Opstapfiets, ouderwetse fiets
* Nichterig (lit. [f] Cousin-like, meaning: sissy) > Arrogant, verwaand "arrogant"
* Opagrappen (Dad jokes) > Pannenkoekgrappen, flauwe humor
* Paardenmeisje (Horse girl) > Paardenverzorger
* Vaderland (Fatherland/Homeland) > Thuisland, geboorteland
* Waterman (Aquarius) > Aquarius
* Zusterstam (Sister tribe) > Siblingstam


== Gender in religion ==
== Gender in religion ==
In Abrahamic [[Religion|religions]], like Judaism, Christianity and the Islam, God is [[agender]]. Yet, in the Dutch language (like English) we refer to God as a male figure in almost every verse of the Qu'Raan, Bible and Tenach. Since the gender revolution, this has been raising questions in society. For more info on this topic, look at the source of this paragraph. The Dutch language is not different to this issue to English and modern spoken Latin languages. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_of_God]
In Abrahamic [[Religion|religions]], like Judaism, Christianity and the Islam, God is [[agender]]. Yet, in the Dutch language, like in English, God is referred to as a male figure in almost every verse of the Qu'Raan, Bible and Tenach. Since the gender revolution, this has been raising questions in society. For more info on this topic, look at the source of this paragraph. The Dutch language is not different to this issue to English and modern spoken Latin languages. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_of_God]


== Honorary titles ==
== Honorary titles ==
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|}
|}


== Use of gender and genus in official documents and education ==
== Use of gender and genus in official documents, speech and education ==
In high schools, teachers are not allowed to confirm neo-genderneutral language as valid in CE (Centraal Examen) exams, since it is viewed as incorrect by the state. They can, however, still allow students to make use of this type of language, if at SE (School Examen) exams. This is a choice of their own, and are still legally not required to check it in favor of neo-genderneutral language.
In high schools, teachers are not allowed to confirm neo-genderneutral language as valid in CE (Centraal Examen) exams, since it is viewed as incorrect by the state. They can, however, still allow students to make use of this type of language, if at SE (School Examen) exams. This is a choice of their own, and are still legally not required to check it in favor of neo-genderneutral language.


In elementary school, genderneutral pronouns are still not a part of the curriculum. Teachers have the option to teach, but are not required to. This is part of the reason why still a lot of Dutch speakers are not aware of genderneutral pronouns.     
In elementary school, genderneutral pronouns are still not a part of the curriculum. Teachers have the option to teach, but are not required to. This is part of the reason why still a lot of Dutch speakers are not aware of genderneutral pronouns.     


In biology, the Dutch refer to 'man' and 'vrouw' (aka 'geslacht'; genus) to specifically state XY or XX chromosomes. Although genus is built out of ten different components (like facial hair, body structure, etc. NB: 11 when one counts gender), the State refers specifically to the chromosomes as an indicator for [[genus]]. This is similar to the English "use of "male" and "female". When talking about animals, we tend to use diminutives, like "mannetje" and "vrouwtje", just like the Dutch commonly differentiate animals on in different contexts (e.g. through words like "bek", "ras", "voer" and "poot"). NB: Using a diminutive for your partner is therefore also seen as something playful rather than serious matter.   
In biology, the Dutch refer to 'man' and 'vrouw' (aka 'geslacht'; genus) to specifically state XY or XX chromosomes. Although genus is built out of ten different components (like facial hair, body structure, etc. NB: 11 when one counts gender), the State refers specifically to the chromosomes as an indicator for [[genus]]. This is similar to the English "use of "male" and "female".  
 
When talking about animals, we tend to use diminutives, like "mannetje" and "vrouwtje", just like the Dutch commonly differentiate animals on in different contexts (e.g. through words like "bek", "ras", "voer" and "poot"). NB: Using a diminutive for your partner is therefore also seen as something playful rather than serious matter. The Dutch refer to animals (since they are seen as objects) with hij/hem/zijn, unless there is a specific reason to assume that the animal is female, therefore zij/haar is used.   


On official documents like passports, identification cards (IDs), driver's license and other official documents is the use of gender and genus a bit confusing to about just anyone. For example, IDs show as options for genus: 'M/V/X'. According to science, genus will never change with our modern-day knowledge, and thus would mean that people with XX will get assigned a 'V', XY will get an 'M' and people with any other natural variations of chromosomes will receive an 'X'.
On official documents like passports, identification cards (IDs), driver's license and other official documents is the use of gender and genus a bit confusing to about just anyone. For example, IDs show as options for genus: 'M/V/X'. According to science, genus will never change with our modern-day knowledge, and thus would mean that people with XX will get assigned a 'V', XY will get an 'M' and people with any other natural variations of chromosomes will receive an 'X'.
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