Page 115 - Šolsko polje, XXXI, 2020, 5-6: Teaching Feminism, ed. Valerija Vendramin
P. 115
. šorli ■ feminism and gender-neutral language: between systems and effects
responsibility and GNL through the representation of women. Most im-
portantly, these dictionaries do not show actual usage, which can be an-
alysed using contemporary reference corpora (such as Gigafida 2.0 and
SlWaC). Thus, the linguistic norm is reflected at the level of the selected
dictionary entries, as well as the definitions and usage examples, where the
interpretation of reality and the social norm take precedence over gram-
matical gender. Lexicographic descriptions of meaning and usage play an
important role in defining words, such as oseba (Eng. person) or človek
(Eng. man/human), in the context of GNL (see especially senses 2 and 4
including examples, below):
Picture 1: Lexicography at work in gender-(non)neutral language: noun
človek (Eng. human) (Dictionary of Standard Slovenian, second edition
(SSKJ2))
A quick look at the lexicographic description of these (lexically and
semantically) gender-neutral words may call into question their neutrality
in public discourse in which grammatical facts are not considered, where
perceptions, intentions and effects of meaning and communication mat-
ter more. A dictionary must contain grammatical facts and should con-
vey the actual usage, meaning and pragmatic function of a word in a so-
cial context. However, usage examples often reflect the “social reality as
seen by lexicographers” (Gorjanc, 2005, p. 205). For comparison, a corre-
sponding dictionary entry from the Oxford-DZS Comprehensive English-
Slovenian Dictionary (Krek, 2005–6) is shown below to demonstrate at-
tempts of a balanced gender representation policy based on actual usage at
the level of entries, definitions and usage examples:
113
responsibility and GNL through the representation of women. Most im-
portantly, these dictionaries do not show actual usage, which can be an-
alysed using contemporary reference corpora (such as Gigafida 2.0 and
SlWaC). Thus, the linguistic norm is reflected at the level of the selected
dictionary entries, as well as the definitions and usage examples, where the
interpretation of reality and the social norm take precedence over gram-
matical gender. Lexicographic descriptions of meaning and usage play an
important role in defining words, such as oseba (Eng. person) or človek
(Eng. man/human), in the context of GNL (see especially senses 2 and 4
including examples, below):
Picture 1: Lexicography at work in gender-(non)neutral language: noun
človek (Eng. human) (Dictionary of Standard Slovenian, second edition
(SSKJ2))
A quick look at the lexicographic description of these (lexically and
semantically) gender-neutral words may call into question their neutrality
in public discourse in which grammatical facts are not considered, where
perceptions, intentions and effects of meaning and communication mat-
ter more. A dictionary must contain grammatical facts and should con-
vey the actual usage, meaning and pragmatic function of a word in a so-
cial context. However, usage examples often reflect the “social reality as
seen by lexicographers” (Gorjanc, 2005, p. 205). For comparison, a corre-
sponding dictionary entry from the Oxford-DZS Comprehensive English-
Slovenian Dictionary (Krek, 2005–6) is shown below to demonstrate at-
tempts of a balanced gender representation policy based on actual usage at
the level of entries, definitions and usage examples:
113
