Gender-neutral pronouns have become increasingly prominent in public discourse, yet their integration into everyday language remains complex and contested. In this presentation I will outline the theoretical framework established by our project team, which provides a comprehensive overview of relevant interdisciplinary considerations when studying gender-neutral pronouns. In this presentation, I will focus on two important considerations: the grammatical constraints of a language (i.e. how much grammatical gender agreement is required in a language) and the type of use (generic use vs. specific use). 

Building on this foundation, I will present empirical data from Dutch and French studies that examine the generic and specific use of gender-neutral pronouns. Key variables include participants’ knowledge of these forms, their comprehensibility in various contexts, and their appreciation or acceptance. The findings reveal nuanced differences across languages and usage types, shedding light on how inclusive language is processed and received in multilingual settings. By bridging theoretical insights with cross-linguistic evidence, this talk contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving role of gender-neutral pronouns in contemporary communication.

This event is co-organized by French Linguistics and General Linguistics. 

LU Zoom meeting:https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/67006790336?pwd=rRaKDZBnYM3MruCGUuQCZCSJIvgzLJ.1

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