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Gender neutral language in Swedish: Difference between revisions
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{{Template:Gender neutral language}} | {{Template:Gender neutral language}} | ||
<translate><!--T:1--> | <translate>== Introduction == <!--T:1--> | ||
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The Swedish language has two grammatical genders, common (en-words, previously feminine and masculine but they are now merged) and neuter (ett-words). Swedish has thus been more adaptable to gender-neutral (or gender inclusive) expressions than languages with rigid feminine/masculine distinctions. | The Swedish language has two grammatical genders, common (en-words, previously feminine and masculine but they are now merged) and neuter (ett-words). Swedish has thus been more adaptable to gender-neutral (or gender inclusive) expressions than languages with rigid feminine/masculine distinctions. | ||
Gender-neutral/gender-inclusive language is a way of communicating that intentionally avoids assumptions about gender. In Swedish, this can mean: | Gender-neutral/gender-inclusive language is a way of communicating that intentionally avoids assumptions about gender. In Swedish, this can mean: | ||
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* Using gender-neutral pronouns: ''Hen'' instead of ''han'' (he) or ''hon'' (she). | * Using gender-neutral pronouns: ''Hen'' instead of ''han'' (he) or ''hon'' (she). | ||
* Choosing inclusive nouns: ''Vuxen'' (adult) instead of ''man'' (man) or ''kvinna'' (woman). | * Choosing inclusive nouns: ''Vuxen'' (adult) instead of ''man'' (man) or ''kvinna'' (woman). | ||
* Reforming job titles: ''Brandbekämpare'' (firefighter) instead of ''brandman'' (literally “fireman”), and ''sjukskötare'' (caregiver/nurse) instead of ''sjuksköterska'' (traditionally specifically “female nurse”). | * Reforming job titles: ''Brandbekämpare'' (firefighter) instead of ''brandman'' (literally “fireman”), and ''sjukskötare'' (caregiver/nurse) instead of ''sjuksköterska'' (traditionally specifically “female nurse”). | ||
=== Why Gender-Neutral Language Matters === | === Why Gender-Neutral Language Matters === <!--T:239--> | ||
The goal of gender-neutral language is to foster equality and inclusion for all individuals, regardless of gender, as well as to lessen the excess emphasis and importance that is put on gender in a highly socioculturally gendered society. It helps reduce the risk of misgendering, which can cause discomfort or distress – particularly for people who experience gender dysphoria or those who do not identify within the traditional gender binary. | The goal of gender-neutral language is to foster equality and inclusion for all individuals, regardless of gender, as well as to lessen the excess emphasis and importance that is put on gender in a highly socioculturally gendered society. It helps reduce the risk of misgendering, which can cause discomfort or distress – particularly for people who experience gender dysphoria or those who do not identify within the traditional gender binary. | ||
Gender-neutral language is not only a useful and necessary grammatical tool, but also a social one. It is especially important in contexts where gender is varied/queer, mixed/diverse in a group, irrelevant/unwanted, secret or unknown. By adopting inclusive language, we create environments that respect and acknowledge everyone. | <!--T:147--> | ||
Gender-neutral language is not only a useful and necessary grammatical tool, but also a social one. It is especially important in contexts where gender is varied/queer, mixed/diverse in a group, irrelevant/unwanted, secret or unknown. By adopting inclusive language, we create environments that respect and acknowledge everyone. | |||
=== History === | === History === <!--T:240--> | ||
Historically, the Swedish society was, like many others, deeply rooted in a binary understanding of gender. Language reflected this, with most professions and roles being assigned a default gender – often masculine – unless specifically marked as feminine (for example, ''sjuksköterska'' for “nurse” and ''brandman'' for “firefighter”). Over time, as societal attitudes toward gender evolved, so too did the need for language that could accommodate a broader spectrum of identities. | Historically, the Swedish society was, like many others, deeply rooted in a binary understanding of gender. Language reflected this, with most professions and roles being assigned a default gender – often masculine – unless specifically marked as feminine (for example, ''sjuksköterska'' for “nurse” and ''brandman'' for “firefighter”). Over time, as societal attitudes toward gender evolved, so too did the need for language that could accommodate a broader spectrum of identities. | ||
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The late 20<sup>th</sup> and early 21<sup>st</sup> centuries saw a growing awareness of gender diversity and the limitations of binary language. Activists and linguists began advocating for more inclusive alternatives. This movement gained momentum as Sweden became increasingly recognized for its progressive stance on gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights. | The late 20<sup>th</sup> and early 21<sup>st</sup> centuries saw a growing awareness of gender diversity and the limitations of binary language. Activists and linguists began advocating for more inclusive alternatives. This movement gained momentum as Sweden became increasingly recognized for its progressive stance on gender equality and LGBTQIA+ rights. | ||
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A notable milestone was the introduction and popularization of hen – a gender-neutral pronoun – in the 2010s. Hen was not an entirely new invention; it had appeared in feminist and LGBTQIA+ circles as early as the 1960s, but it was the 21st century that saw it enter mainstream dictionaries and everyday speech. | A notable milestone was the introduction and popularization of hen – a gender-neutral pronoun – in the 2010s. Hen was not an entirely new invention; it had appeared in feminist and LGBTQIA+ circles as early as the 1960s, but it was the 21st century that saw it enter mainstream dictionaries and everyday speech. | ||
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==<translate><!--T:2--> Pronouns</translate>== | ==<translate><!--T:2--> Pronouns</translate>== | ||
===<translate><!--T:3--> Gender-neutral third-person singular</translate>=== | ===<translate><!--T:3--> Gender-neutral third-person singular</translate>=== | ||
<translate><!--T:4--> Swedish’s official gender-neutral pronoun is hen/hen/hens. The Swedish common-inanimate pronoun den/den/dens (equivalent to it/it/its) is also used for gender-neutral language and by some nonbinary people. Singular de/dem/deras[https://transformering.se/vad-ar-trans/pronomen] (they/them/their) can often be used as a gender-neutral pronoun without it sounding weird, even though it is not commonly recognized or documented for being able to do so. If de/dem/deras is used in singular, the numeral conjugations of other words could be in singular as well (with regards to it not being common practice). Some nonbinary people have also opted for neopronouns such as hin/hin/hins [https://svenska.se/so/?id=130633][https://sv.wiktionary.org/wiki/hin][https://www.mjolby.se/uppleva-och-gora/fritidsgardar/queerious/ordlista---queerious][https://transformering.se/vad-ar-trans/pronomen], which is actually not a new pronoun but an obsolete pronoun (archaeopronoun) that means something alike “that one”, but is in modern times pretty much only used in the set phrase “hin håle” (the hard one, the devil). | <translate><!--T:4--> | ||
Swedish’s official gender-neutral pronoun is hen/hen/hens. The Swedish common-inanimate pronoun den/den/dens (equivalent to it/it/its) is also used for gender-neutral language and by some nonbinary people. Singular de/dem/deras[https://transformering.se/vad-ar-trans/pronomen] (they/them/their) can often be used as a gender-neutral pronoun without it sounding weird, even though it is not commonly recognized or documented for being able to do so. If de/dem/deras is used in singular, the numeral conjugations of other words could be in singular as well (with regards to it not being common practice). Some nonbinary people have also opted for neopronouns such as hin/hin/hins [https://svenska.se/so/?id=130633][https://sv.wiktionary.org/wiki/hin][https://www.mjolby.se/uppleva-och-gora/fritidsgardar/queerious/ordlista---queerious][https://transformering.se/vad-ar-trans/pronomen], which is actually not a new pronoun but an obsolete pronoun (archaeopronoun) that means something alike “that one”, but is in modern times pretty much only used in the set phrase “hin håle” (the hard one, the devil). | |||
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'na and 'an are a shortened, dialectal or old accusative forms of the feminine Swedish pronouns "hon" and the masculine Swedish pronouns "han", 'en could be used for "hen" is a similar way if one uses it in a way that sounds natural. </translate> | 'na and 'an are a shortened, dialectal or old accusative forms of the feminine Swedish pronouns "hon" and the masculine Swedish pronouns "han", 'en could be used for "hen" is a similar way if one uses it in a way that sounds natural. </translate> | ||
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<translate><!--T:183--> '''Note 1:''' The words "enby" and "enban" were made for nonbinary people specifically, but could be used by nonbinary intersex people who identify with it. They can also be used by parents for their intersex children "if" the child expresses an identification with not being specifially a girl or a boy and wants to use those words. These words are, however, not condoned by everyone since they do reinforce gendering. It's important to remember that words like "girl", "boy" and "enby" are gendered nouns, while endosex, intersex, female and male is about biological sex and should be used as descriptors for such, thus people opt not to have any single specific gendered person-nouns for intersex people. | <translate><!--T:183--> | ||
'''Note 1:''' The words "enby" and "enban" were made for nonbinary people specifically, but could be used by nonbinary intersex people who identify with it. They can also be used by parents for their intersex children "if" the child expresses an identification with not being specifially a girl or a boy and wants to use those words. These words are, however, not condoned by everyone since they do reinforce gendering. It's important to remember that words like "girl", "boy" and "enby" are gendered nouns, while endosex, intersex, female and male is about biological sex and should be used as descriptors for such, thus people opt not to have any single specific gendered person-nouns for intersex people. | |||
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<translate><!--T:185--> '''Note 3:''' "Enby" and "enban" are not standardized words in Swedish, but are loanwords from English to fill the gap of nonbinary inclusive language.</translate> | <translate><!--T:185--> '''Note 3:''' "Enby" and "enban" are not standardized words in Swedish, but are loanwords from English to fill the gap of nonbinary inclusive language.</translate> | ||
<translate><!--T:186--> '''Note 4:''' Some nonbinary people dislike "enby" and see it as infantilizing. | <translate><!--T:186--> | ||
'''Note 4:''' Some nonbinary people dislike "enby" and see it as infantilizing. | |||
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'''Note 5:''' The descriptive adjectives can be used instead of the specific people nouns as to not nounify attributes and descriptive characteristics (such as age) that one deems to be misplaced as prescriptive or identifying nouns.</translate> | '''Note 5:''' The descriptive adjectives can be used instead of the specific people nouns as to not nounify attributes and descriptive characteristics (such as age) that one deems to be misplaced as prescriptive or identifying nouns.</translate> | ||
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*'''Besatt/ockuperad/med personal, obesatt/oockuperad/utan personal, personalbesatt.''' Means occupied/with staff and unoccupied/without staff, these alternatives can be used as non-male-generalizing alternatives to "bemannad" (manned) and "obemannad" (unmanned). | *'''Besatt/ockuperad/med personal, obesatt/oockuperad/utan personal, personalbesatt.''' Means occupied/with staff and unoccupied/without staff, these alternatives can be used as non-male-generalizing alternatives to "bemannad" (manned) and "obemannad" (unmanned). | ||
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*'''Besegra, överväldiga/överrumpla, övertrumfa, övervinna.''' Non-male-generalizing alternatives to "övermanna" ("overman"/overpower), means "defeat", "overwhelm", "outdo" and "overcome". | *'''Besegra, överväldiga/överrumpla, övertrumfa, övervinna.''' Non-male-generalizing alternatives to "övermanna" ("overman"/overpower), means "defeat", "overwhelm", "outdo" and "overcome". | ||
*'''Besättning/personal/rekrytering, personalbesättning.''' Neutral, standard-nonstandard. Means staff/crew/recuitment and can be used as non-male-generalizing alternatives for bemanning ("manning"). | *'''Besättning/personal/rekrytering, personalbesättning.''' Neutral, standard-nonstandard. Means staff/crew/recuitment and can be used as non-male-generalizing alternatives for bemanning ("manning"). | ||