Changing grammar of gender politics

With the move towards gender equality percolating to every aspect of quotidian existence, it is not surprising that grammar is in the crosshairs, especially in languages that ascribe a sex to all objects. In this context, India with its plethora of tongues should pay close attention to the debate in France over the proposal to replace the privileging of the male over female when it comes to gendered adjectives for plural nouns.

A majority principle where gender would depend on whether the collection of people has more men or women works only in some cases but it would at least be a start. The French defend their cuisine and language with equal fervour, but surely altering this linguistic practice would not have as apocalyptic an after-effect as, say, changing the shape of baguette. Indeed, the world is veering round to the view that grammar cannot be considered sacrosanct and should evolve with the times.

India has a fair share of languages with gendered usage. In fact, this is one of the bugbears of speakers trying to learn such languages: what gender is a table or a car? Indeed, why should they have a gender when even humans are being encouraged to be described in gender-neutral ways? Like France, India may soon need an acceptable language arbiter to decide on any future linguistic and grammatical conundrums.