The editor-in-chief of Duden, Laura Neuhaus, has acknowledged the considerable resistance surrounding the use of colons or inner-I in gender-neutral language practices. Speaking to MDR Aktuell, she emphasized that language is inherently emotionally charged, leading individuals to question the necessity of changes and their impact on personal expression. “Perhaps some people simply don’t wish to participate in linguistic evolution” she stated, adding that Duden adopts a relaxed, observational stance regarding these developments.
Neuhaus highlighted the ever-changing nature of language, noting that contemporary speech differs significantly from that of literary figures like Goethe and Schiller. “Linguistic change is, on the one hand, a reflection of societal evolution” she explained, “and, on the other, something that goes beyond that. Language is a tool and the choice of which specific variant to use is ultimately a personal stylistic decision that warrants careful consideration.
She reiterated that Duden bases its recommendations on the guidelines provided by the Council for German Orthography, an organization that observes that special characters – such as asterisks, colons and underscores – do not constitute core elements of German spelling. However, she noted their usage in specific contexts, particularly when referring to non-binary individuals.
Crucially, Neuhaus stressed that the discussion around gender-neutral language shouldn’t be solely focused on these contested special characters. She emphasized the ability to express inclusivity and sensitivity without relying on them, pointing to alternative formulations using terms like “member” “people” “person” or “leadership” as examples.
