In the latest edition of Dikke Van Dale, the Large Dictionary of the Dutch Language, a large number of words that refer to people are given a gender-neutral ‘x’ in addition to an ‘m’ and ‘v’.
–
The new addition appears at almost 15,000 words. It concerns all ‘de-words’ that indicate a person, but which do not necessarily refer to a biological gender, according to Van Dale. ‘For example: the minister, the football player, the hero, the baker or the criminal.’ The words that clearly indicate a biological gender, such as the garbage man, the nun, the father or the maternity woman, do not change anything. Those words only keep a (m) or a (v).
According to Van Dale, the change in the new edition of the dictionary, which will be published on March 22, is ‘a consequence of changing views in society, which means that language use changes with it’. ‘An increasing number of people no longer refer to a specific gender with professional and other personal names, and use gender-inclusive options in their daily use of language.’
Bieke Purnelle, director of RoSa, the knowledge center for gender and feminism, calls it a logical step. ‘It is important that a standard work such as the Dikke Van Dale reflects society and reality and not the other way around.’
– .
