Fairlanguage in simple language

Overview

• What does the Fairlanguage team do?
• Who is on the Fairlanguage team?
• This is important to us.
• Where does the name Fairlanguage come from?
• How fair is the word "fair"?
• What is inclusive language?
• What is gender-sensible language?
• Talking well about disability.
• What does language have to do with racism?
• What is non-binary? What are pronouns?
• Contact - This is how you can write to us or talk to us.

What does the Fairlanguage team do?

We are a brand of the Linguistische Unternehmensberatung.
Linguistic means: We do something with language.
We know a lot about language.
That means: All people should be well informed.
And all people should be able to have a good say.
And all people should be included in the language.
We also know a lot about anti-racist language.
This means: We know how not to judge people based on their origin.
And how not to judge people based on their appearance.
We are also well versed in gender-equitable language.
This means: We know how to treat all genders equally.

In our work, for example, we do:
- Presentations
- Training
- Counselling

Here people learn:
- What is inclusive language.
- How to use inclusive language. - How to use inclusive language. How can I use inclusive language.
- How can I use language without prejudice.
- How can I use language for all genders.
- How can I use language without racism.

Afterwards, people are better at using inclusive language.
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We also write texts.
The texts explain how people can speak and write in an inclusive and gender-inclusive way.
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We also read through texts.
We change the texts so that no one is excluded.

This is important to us.

We think:
Language determines our actions.
That is why it is important:
Our language should be fair.
Some people are consciously or unconsciously discriminated against.
This means that other people treat them worse.
This can also happen through language.
This is bad for people to whom this happens.
These people then have to overcome even more obstacles.
And they have fewer opportunities in life.
We want to encourage everyone to take an interest in inclusive language.
We don't forbid anything.
We want to inspire everyone.
We want to help people:
So that they have more respect for other people.
So that they show more consideration for others.
So that they break down barriers.
And not build new barriers.

Where does the name Fairlanguage come from?

What should our brand be called?
We thought about this a lot.
We had lots of ideas.
We decided on the name Fairlanguage.
Fairlanguage means:
We want to make language fairer.
We want to make language fairer.
We believe in a fair society.
Everyone should be able to participate.
Inclusive language is our contribution to this.

How fair is the word "fair"?

We are always learning new things.
This is important to us.
Our company name is English and German.
Fair means: just or good.
Respecting other people and their rights.
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There are many meanings for fair in English.
For example:
All people are equal.
No one is treated better.
The skin and hair are fair.

The word "fair" means: just, clean, orderly.
But it also has another meaning.
The word "fair" also means: beautiful.

In Europe, there are prejudices against people with dark skin.
And light skin is often considered more beautiful than dark skin.
That's not right.
We want:
- be fair
- be just

The word fair means something different in English and in German.
But it also means "just" in both languages.
We want justice in language.
We keep thinking about language.
We want to understand better and better:
What does the name really mean?
How do we use language?
What prejudices do we have?

What is inclusive language?

We think about how we can talk to and about people without hurting them or treating them badly.
We call this inclusive language.
We want to tell you about it.
Our language influences our thoughts.
Our thoughts decide what we do.
We have to pay attention to our language.
Unfortunately, people are not treated equally.
Because there is injustice in our society.
Some people are treated worse because of their gender.
Some people are treated worse because of a disability.
Some people are treated worse because of the way they look.
Some people are treated worse because of where they come from.
For our society to be fair, we have to be careful how we talk about people.
We must not exclude anyone or use words that hurt people.
We must let everyone have their say.
People must be able to decide for themselves how we talk about them.

What is gender-sensible language?

Some people are treated worse than others because of their gender.

For example:
- women
- people who are not a man and not a woman
- people who are a man and a woman at the same time
- people who are a man for a while and a woman for a while

This is unfair.

Language can help us to ensure that all genders are treated fairly.
There are many more genders than man and woman.
But our language doesn't always reflect that.
We often only speak and write in a way that reflects men.
That's not right.
That's why we need to change the language.
So we can talk about all people the way they want to be talked about.

Talking well about disability

What is ableism?

People with disabilities are often treated worse.
This is called able-ism.
People with disabilities are often judged only because of their disability.

For example:
- They cannot walk.
- They cannot see.
- They behave differently.

Language that does not treat people with disabilities badly
We can do this:
Make content simpler.
Then everyone can read and join in the conversation.
Remember that different people can do different things.
Respect that not everyone thinks the same.
People with disabilities want to decide for themselves how they are talked about.
We should not just talk about them, but ask them which words are right for them.

What does language have to do with racism?

People are treated unfairly.
For example, because they come from a different country.
Or because they have a certain skin color.
The word for this injustice is: racism.

Racism has been around for a long time.
There are many different kinds of racism.

Racism
We say: racism is a kind of injustice.
Injustice means: some people get more rights than other people.
For example, some people don't get to talk as much as other people.
And some people are offended by certain words.
That's injustice.
And that is violence.
That's why we have to fight against racism.
We have to make sure: all people get the same rights.
Nobody is insulted or hurt.
And all people are allowed to speak equally often.
You want to learn more about anti-racist language?
Then you can do a workshop with us.

What is non-binary? What are pronouns?

Many people think:
You can tell the gender of a person by their appearance.
Or by their name.
Or by their voice.

But that's not true.
Only the person themselves knows: That's my gender.

Some people are non-binary.
That means they are not a man or a woman.
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Many people think:
There are only 2 pronouns for people in German: he and she

But that's not true.
There are other pronouns.
And not all people use "er" or "sie" as pronouns.

Only one person knows:
That's what I want to be called.
That's my pronoun.

People who are non-binary don't use "er" or "sie".
For example, they have the pronoun: "er_sie".
Or they have the pronoun: "nin".
Or they have the pronoun: "hen".
Or they have the pronoun: "es".
Or they have the pronoun: "dey".

Some people don't use pronouns either, just their own name.

People sometimes use the wrong pronoun for other people.
That's a shame and hurts.

You can ask people:
Which pronoun do you use?
How can I address you?