Inclusive language meets translation: The challenge of translating Kim de l’Horizon’s Blutbuch

Abstract

Gender-inclusive language is increasingly important in linguistics and in the public debate, yet languages face distinct challenges due to their diverse grammatical gender systems. This paper explores gender-inclusive strategies in German, French, and Dutch, using the translation of the German “Gendersternchen” ‘gender star’ (e.g., Lehrer*innen ‘teachers’) in the German novel Blutbuch (2022, Kim de l’Horizon) as a case study. By investigating the strategies used in French and Dutch to translate the non-binary inclusivity of the German original, this study analyses how relatively closely related languages navigate gender-inclusive practices. The findings show that the French translation uses, for example, new morphological forms (e.g., using the schwa) to maintain non-binary inclusivity, while the Dutch version mostly relies on non-inclusive forms, even in contexts intended to be inclusive. The results reflect broader societal discussions: French-speaking countries face intense debates and diverse strategies for gender-inclusivity, whereas Dutch-speaking countries show less engagement with the topic, often defaulting to masculine-generic forms as neutral references. Our study underscores how differences in grammatical gender systems influence and shape the strategies used to achieve linguistic gender-inclusivity.