Gender-Neutral Language in English and French Linguo-Cultures

Abstract

Gender linguistics studies the gender-neutral aspect in detail that is usually manifested in a language. One of its provisions tells us that language not only possesses such qualities as anthropocentrism (human orientations) is, but it also implies androcentrism, that is, that it presents a picture of the world based on a masculine viewpoint, in the form of a man (as a personality). The manifestation of such gender asymmetry in the language leads to unequal representation of persons of different sexes and is considered to be intolerant, especially among the members of a foreign language culture.In our paper we deal with the peculiarities of gender-neutral language in English and French linguo-cultures, determine the similarities - the differences between gender-neutral lexis and try to show the cases in which they occur in the process of language interaction. It should be noted that the requirements of political correctness, which are due to non-linguistic reasons, play an important role in the language policy of any country.In conclusion, it should be admitted that in English and French linguistics, the priority to the designation of women in the professional field is given in different ways. Neutral forms are more common (and therefore more widespread) in English whereas in French, however, the forms with inflectional changes or analytical structures of generating nouns are more preferable. Anyway, in European society, language policy and the use of gender-neutral language are greatly influenced by political correctness requirements due to extralinguistic reasons.