German Dictionary scrapes 12,000 masculine nouns to make language neutral

German dictionary, Duden which is similar to Oxford English Dictionary, has scrapped use of a masculine form of nouns to describe whole professions. change, which has alrey been criticised by Association for German Language and termed it as an attempt to impose "politically correct expressions”, applies to nearly 12,000 words and has exasperated tritionalists and some linguists. 

German is a gendered language, meaning, all nouns fall into eir masculine category or feminine and neuter forms. Several nouns, such as jobs have both masculine and feminine forms. However, as per reports, masculine form is used to describe occupation in general terms. Times even pointed out that example of ‘doctor’. While male doctor is ‘ein Arzt', a female doctor is 'eine Ärztin'. Still, in sentences such as ‘I am going to doctors’, German-speakers use masculine form of noun. 

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For furr instance, a group of three female doctors would be referred to by feminine form but a group of two females and one male doctor would be described using masculine form. Even if re is one male and one female doctor present, masculine form would be used to describe m both collectively. This has been several reformists who say such languages reinforce sexism. But, tritionalists have argued that alternatives have so far been unwieldy and have failed to reflect way people actually speak. 

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Similar debate in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries

As per reports, following Duden limiting masculine nouns to make language more ‘gender-neutral’, similar debates have been taking place in Spain and or Spanish-speaking nations. Some speakers of language have replaced masculine 'o' or feminine 'a' at end of nouns with an 'x'. As per reports, Kathrin Kunkel-Razum, Duden dictionary's chief editor, has noted that masculine form will still be used to describe a group comprised of "multiple genders," though she acknowledged that it may le to confusion regarding exact composition of such groups.

However, Association for German Language (GfdS) has criticised move saying, “ society Kunkel-Razum thinks she is dressing doesn't follow se rules. se gender terms are not used in normal interactions in supermarket or garage...Over past two years numerous surveys have shown that this gendering has no support in society.”

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