Linguistic relativity, gender grammar and inclusive language: Some considerations

Abstract

In this paper, we examine a case of application of the hypothesis of linguistic relativity (HLR): the influence of the grammatical gender of languages on the cognition or thinking of speakers. Since languages differ both in their lexical repertoires, but, specially, in their gender grammars to refer to people, other animated beings and even inanimate entities, our purpose will be, first, to review the recent experimental evidence that would support the HLR on this domain, because they verify a variety of cognitive and psychological impacts, variable according to the languages of the speakers. In particular, we will identify what are the “relativist effects” in the case of morphosyntactic features of gender-loaded languages and in a relation to the universalization of the male gender. Based on the evaluation carried out and incorporating the contributions of “gender and language” studies of feminist approaches, we will conclude by pointing out in what ways it is viable and important to promote inclusive uses of language and even deeper changes towards an inclusive language, with special reference to Spanish.