Gender neutral language in French: Difference between revisions

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    Florence Ashley highlights that the order of the feminine and masculine morphemes doesn't matter.<ref name=":5" /> Usage, intelligibleness and personal preference dictate which forms will gain in popularity. However, the prosodic sequencing of syllables in French can have an impact on intelligibility. 'naïvif' — feminine morpheme first, masculine morpheme afterwards —, for example, sequenced as [na'i'vif], makes appear the word 'vif' (i. e. 'vivacious').
    Florence Ashley argues that the order in which the feminine and masculine morphemes are combined does not matter.<ref name=":5" /> Usage, intelligibleness and personal preference ultimately determine which forms will gain traction. However, the prosodic sequencing of syllables in French can impact intelligibility. For instance, the pronunciation of 'naïvif' (neutral form) as [na'i'vif], contrary to 'naïfive', makes appear the word 'vif' (i. e. 'vivacious') and can thus lead to confusion.


    ==== Some gender-neutral nouns from irregular substantives ====
    ==== Some gender-neutral nouns from irregular substantives ====