Welcome to the inclusive language that speaks to everyone. Will be?
When we talk about themes related to diversity, equity and inclusion, we realize that today there is an audience obsessed with details. Sometimes on the very edge of patrol. Simple everyday attitudes or actions, in the real world or in the digital jungle of social networks, can give rise to reactions (mostly legitimate) of activism.
The words we use are constant targets of attentive and engaged militancy of different ideological nuances. Some words are considered sexist, others homophobic, and so on. This brought about the beneficial attitude of measuring our words better. Which ones to speak, which ones to avoid. It is not self-censorship, it is due care to express ourselves in accordance with our beliefs and values, without offending people and groups that deserve our respect.
Tongues are alive. They are in constant transformation and evolution. Even dictionaries, which record current words, need to be renewed from time to time. The colloquial language, in our case the spoken Portuguese, is how we communicate in informal situations. Some experts claim that the great wealth of the spoken language lies in the real intercomprehension between people. Traditional or written language, on the other hand, as a document, summarizes and formalizes reality, running the risk of being less truthful.
A few days ago, in a good conversation round about inclusion, we discussed whether the phrase DIA DE BRANCO was racist. The origin of the expression is uncertain. Some say that he was born in the Navy, because of the white uniforms, others refer to the white linen suits, which many people wore. The fact is that when I hear this expression and reframe it for today, I understand it as a synonym for “work day”. In other words, even if the origin is not racist, the common understanding contrasts the “white that goes to work” with the “black that doesn’t work”, making “white day” an inadequate term. It sounds racist indeed, just like “black service”, used as a synonym for “sloppy job”. There is a list of expressions that are still current that have been naturalized over time, which represent, in fact or symbolically, prejudice. “Judiation”; “your negates”; “foot in the kitchen’; “White envy”. All of these are in the same basket.
Although the expression had a different origin, not racist and not intended to be, it is understood as such, and therefore classified as racist. I say this even though I am not my place of speech, but my place of listening. It’s not how I feel about that phrase, but how black people, gays, Jews or other protagonists of diversity feel when we say it. From that point on, my feeling should be empathy with the cause, rewriting the sentence or not using it anymore. Even because it won’t be any sacrifice to talk about “work day”, “sloppy work”, “mistreatment”. If your desire is to express your respect to people who feel left out, it’s best to re-educate yourself and avoid that kind of expression.
When we communicate over the internet, it is common to use abbreviations such as ‘pq’, ‘vc’, ‘tbm’, ‘rsrsrs’, among others. An informal way of saying that we didn’t learn in school, but that is easily understood.
currently the emoji clown face (clown face) is super popular on social media. It is used to qualify situations that make us look like clowns. Phenomena like this are also the result of the social evolution of a language. We are always looking for shortcuts or adjustments to make communication faster. An emoji is nothing more than a coded word, a shared idea. The value of the idea will vary among the different recipients. Younger people tend to have less difficulty, older people find it strange more. However, evolutions from emojis do not usually generate as much controversy as the adoption of neutral or non-binary language.
Inclusive language is not an imposed obligation, but a discussion that proposes to include non-binary trans people, intersex and those who do not identify with the female and male genders. And that’s not all. Neutral language talks about power relations. About making visible a part of society that is always sidelined. It’s not a simple spelling change, but a change of perspective.
Without great effort, it is possible to make the language more inclusive, without sacrificing formal Portuguese. We can exchange welcome for welcome, use the term “people” more so as not to masculinize communication, change directors for directors, senators for senate, avoid the word “man” in the sense of humanity, or simply use student and student, doctor and doctor, ladies and gentlemen. Care of this kind builds bridges to the positive awareness of others and keeps us aligned with those already practicing inclusion in the speech. We know it’s not easy to get out of our comfort zone, including the spelling ones, but this is an exercise that also modifies an outdated thinking pattern. Its practice consolidates the transformation and change we need to promote. Even because reflecting on language does not prevent us from acting on other issues.
The world asks us for generosity and empathy, so inclusive language is not a matter of accepting or not. It’s a matter of understanding.
Ronaldo Bias Ferreira Jr. is managing partner of a Creative Diversity
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