| Title: |
From Society to the Screen: Navigating Non-Binary Inclusion in the German-Language Classroom |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Zach Ramon Fitzpatrick; Charlie Johnson; Susanne Rott |
| Source: |
Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German. 2025 58(2):240-249. |
| Availability: |
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
10 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive |
| Descriptors: |
German; Nouns; Language Usage; Sex Fairness; Language Acquisition |
| DOI: |
10.1111/tger.70024 |
| ISSN: |
0042-062X; 1756-1221 |
| Abstract: |
Unlike English, which has broadly adopted the singular they and uses gender-neutral nouns for people, German lacks widely used or officially accepted non-binary nouns and pronouns. As a result, most German language teaching materials continue to reflect a cisnormative binary gender system. Research has demonstrated that limiting teaching materials to the binary options (er, sie) leads to misgendering and marginalizes non-binary students. Language instructors, therefore, face the critical task of identifying inclusive linguistic forms (e.g., neopronouns, gender-inclusive nouns) that allow all students to express their identities and be respectfully addressed by others. Drawing on usage-based language acquisition theory, this paper outlines key challenges in developing authentic, gender-inclusive instructional materials. We propose a socio-pragmatic framework to support the meaningful integration of gender-inclusive language (GIL) into the beginning communicative curriculum. Additionally, we show how recent programming from German public broadcasters offers valuable resources for engaging students in discussions of non-binary identity and GIL use at intermediate and advanced levels. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1487814 |
| Database: |
ERIC |