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Space to Communicate Fairly – Guideline for inclusive language use

Summary

Reconceiving JKU’s language guideline

Target groups

no target group restriction /

Implementing organization

JKU Linz - Department for Human Resource Development, Gender and Diversity Management /

Contact

Department for Human Resource Development, Gender and Diversity Management, gd@jku.at
Anna Steinberger, anna.steinberger@jku.at

Implemented/introduced

Will be published in the summer of 2020

Relation to gender equality targets

JKU’s Plan for the advancement of women specifies official language use at the University:

§ 9 Using gender-sensitive language
(1) All bodies and administrative units at JKU shall employ gender-sensitive language and representations in their announcements, forms, protocols, speeches, interviews and other communication directed at the public or intended for members of the university, for instance on the internet or for signs.

The objective(s) of the tool

Raising awareness in relation to how language shapes reality and offering practical support on how to render it inclusively (includes tips for visual communication as well).

Description of the tool

Space to Communicate Fairly succeeds Geschlechtergerecht in Sprache und Bild (“Gender-sensitive language and visuals”), JKU’s earlier language guideline published already in 2009.

In order to enable an examination of inclusive forms of language and to invite reflection of personal language habits, the new guideline contains numerous concrete examples alongside both practical hints and scientific findings. Various dimensions of diversity are employed to illustrate how to produce inclusive texts and to examine spoken language/direct communication. Suggestions for gender-fair English and inclusive forms of visual communication are featured as well. An abridged version oriented towards practice accompanies the guideline.

To raise awareness of the issue, a workshop initiative is scheduled to accompany the guide’s publication. This offer is obligatory for the Department of University Communications but other departments are expected to follow suit in the future (Information Management, Human Resource Management as well as others). The Department for Human Resource Development will also include one language workshop in its range of seminars for members of the university.

How the tool works, practical experience

The guideline will be published in Summer 2020, however, interest in it has been expressed by numerous departments already during the final phase of editing. Current discussions around gender plurality and its representation in language have also elicited response.

Attachments

Space to communicate fairly (in German only)
Abridged version (in German only)