A directive has been issued by Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer, stipulating that employees within his department at the Chancellery in Berlin and Bonn are no longer permitted to use asterisked language in official correspondence. The decision, announced to “Bild am Sonntag” aims to standardize communication practices within the government.
The new guidelines mandate the avoidance of gendered language constructions, including the use of asterisked forms and the “Binnen-I” (inclusion of lowercase “i” to denote inclusive language), in letters, emails and memos. Instead, official communications will utilize the formal salutation “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren” (Dear Ladies and Gentlemen). This approach also aligns with the stipulations of the Council for German Orthography.
Minister Weimer emphasized that while the directive applies to official government communications, private expression remains a matter of individual choice.
The rationale behind the ban centers on the belief that mandated gendered language does not reflect the predominant linguistic habits within Germany and can exacerbate societal divisions. Weimer stated his conviction that language should foster connection rather than discord.
He further articulated his view that language serves as a crucial instrument for societal understanding and should not be considered a platform for ideological agendas. He expressed opposition to prescriptive language instruction, citing a desire to preserve Germany’s “language culture” and arguing that arbitrary interventions through mandated gendered language are unnecessary and detract from the beauty of the language.
