Language has always evolved in response to social processes. For instance, a third gender option beyond the binary gender norm of ‘female’ and ‘male’ was enshrined in German civil registration law in 2018 following a ruling by Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court. At the same time, linguistic changes such as the use of ‘gender stars’ – not least in journalistic media – have stirred intense political and social discussions. Researchers can bring a measure of objectivity to such debates and clarify that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for respectful coexistence between all social groups. Instead, it is important to take a closer look and incorporate the findings of various disciplines.
In the FocusLMU lecture series, respected LMU academics explore themes that have a seminal influence on society from the perspective of various disciplines, providing insights into research findings and engaging in interdisciplinary discussion of the pressing issues of our day.
Professor Anatol Stefanowitsch, Professor for the Structure of Modern English at Freie Universität Berlin, provides his diagnosis of the current status of our language with regard to gender equality and highlights the ability of the language system to find solutions.
Professor Paula-Irene Villa Braslavsky, Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at LMU, broadens the focus to include more fundamental issues such as how we perceive the meaning of gender in the context of social dynamics.
Professor Carsten Reinemann, LMU Professor of Communication Studies with a strong focus on political communication, drills down into a more detailed look at attitudes to this topic and the role of politics and media.
The event will be moderated by Professor Sarah Schimke (German Linguistics at LMU).
Please register via Zoom to follow the debate via live stream. There is no need to register if you wish to attend in person. More information about this event is available on the website of the lecture series FocusLMU: A window to academia.