Sensitivity to migration and discrimination issues is expressed not least in a form of language that is non-discriminatory. And for good reason: Language influences our perception and thus also our social reality; it is the basis of our human interaction. At the same time, language reveals power relations: Who is talking about whom? Who is not referred to? Who doesn’t have a voice? What terms are used to describe people or groups? And: Language is never neutral. For example, the supposedly objective term of the "discovery of America" obscures the fact that a brutal colonisation took place that cost countless human lives. The problem becomes even clearer with the German term "Reichskristallnacht” [Night of Broken Glass]: Although widely used, it is a euphemism for the Reich Pogrom Night, which marked the beginning of the systematic extermination of the Jews.
This makes it clear how key a conscious use of language is, especially in our pluralistic society today. And that also applies to press and public relations work. On the one hand, because it influences social discourse, and on the other hand, because it should not unintentionally hurt anyone. But how can language be used in a way that is sensitive to migration and discrimination? Here it helps to be aware of the following recommendations:
- Migration and discrimination-sensitive language use is not about prohibitions, but rather about the appropriate linguistic expression of social reality. Particularly in the often highly emotional debates on migration and integration issues, names, if they are necessary, should be as precise, appropriate, value- and stereotype-free as possible and not unnecessarily reinforce prejudices.
- However, conscious decisions for or against a formulation are only possible if one knows about the associations, origins and effects of certain designations.
- Sensitivity to migration and discrimination in the field of language is also a sign of respect. Respect includes allowing everyone to decide for themselves when a term is perceived as discriminatory. In case of doubt, representatives of those affected can be asked.
Tools for discrimination-sensitive language use
Numerous tools and recommendations help you to express yourself in a migration and discrimination-sensitive way – for example, by explaining the problems of individual terms, pointing out alternative naming options and raising awareness of the topic in general. These instruments are available for very different marginalised groups. Some of them are listed below:
Tools for migration-sensitive language use
Amnesty International: Glossary of discrimination-sensitive language
AntiDiskriminierungsBüro Cologne: Guidelines for a racism-critical use of language - handout for journalists
Arbeitskreis Kommunaler Qualitätszirkel zur Integration [Working Group of Municipal Quality Circles on Integration]: Handout of Terms on Immigration and Integration Policy
Autor*innenKollektiv [Authors' Collective] Racism Critical Guide: Racism-critical guide for reflecting on existing and creating new didactic teaching and learning materials for educational work in and out of school on blackness, Africa and the African diaspora
Berliner Entwicklungspolitischer Ratschlag [Berlin Development Policy Council] (BER): Von Trommlern und Helfern: Checklisten zur Vermeidung von Rassismen in der entwicklungspolitischen Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
glokal e.V.: Mit kolonialen Grüßen … Berichte und Erzählungen von Auslandsaufenthalten rassismuskritisch betrachtet [With colonial greetings ... reports and narratives of stays abroad viewed with a critical eye on racism]
heldenwetter.de: Wie „wir“ über „die“ schreiben: Gedanken zur Sprache in Reiseberichten [How "we" write about "them": Thoughts on language in travelogues]
Neue deutsche Medienmacher e.V.: Glossar der Neuen deutschen Medienmacher. Formulierungshilfen für die Berichterstattung im Einwanderungsland [Glossary of the New German Media Makers. Formulation aids for reporting in the country of immigration]
Tools for a discrimination-sensitive use of language in the field of people with disabilities
Sozialhelden e.V.: Leidmedien – über Menschen mit Behinderung berichten
University of Salzburg: Das Buch der Begriffe [The Book of terms]
Tools for a discrimination-sensitive use of language in the LGBTQIA+ field
Bund Lesbischer & Schwuler JournalistInnen [Association of Lesbian & Gay Journalists]: Schöner schreiben über Lesben und Schwule [Writing more beautifully about lesbians and gay men]
TransInterQueer e.V.: Trans* inter* queer-ABC
Transgender Network Switzerland: Medienguide
The question of gendering
The area of discrimination-sensitive language use also includes the issue of gendering. This refers to inclusive language that takes into account both masculine and feminine spelling. There are various forms in German:
- *, e.g. Polizist*in [Policeman/policewoman]: The asterisk is intended to deliberately leave room for all possible gender identities.
- E.g. /, z.B. Lehrer/in or Lehrer/-in [teacher]
- _, e.g. Professor_in [Professor]
- I, e.g.. ArbeiterIn [worker]
- :, e.g. Kolleg:in [colleague]
- Writing out the masculine and feminine forms, e.g. Schüler and Schülerin [male and female pupil]
- Neutral formulations, e.g. students, people, persons or individuals, instead of men and women, readers instead of female/male reader
Whether and in what form gendering is used in one's own press and public relations work is a question that should be addressed and consistently applied once clarified. Some useful links and suggested reading will help:
Agency for Equality in the European Social Fund: Guide to gender-sensitive formulation in the field of labour market policy
Free University of Berlin: Geschlechtersensible Sprache [Gender-sensitive language]
Johanna Müller: Geschickt gendern [Skilful gendering]
Journalistinnenbund: Genderleicht. Portal für gendersensible Kommunikation in Wort und Bild
LMU Munich: Leitfaden gendergerechte Sprache [Gender-sensitive language guide]
University of Cologne: ÜberzeuGENDERe Sprache. Leitfaden für eine geschlechtersensible und inklusive Sprache [More convincing gender-related language. Guide to gender-sensitive and inclusive language]
University of Potsdam: Leitfaden zur Anwendung einer gendergerechten Sprache [Guide to the use of gender-sensitive language]
Reference to working guide Further information, recommendations and successful examples from practice can be found in the publication “Diskriminierungssensible Sprache in der Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit. Arbeitshilfe für den Bereich Wort“ ["Discrimination-sensitive language in press and public relations work. Guidelines for the field of language".].
Further links and suggested reading
Adibeli Nduka Agwu / Antje Lann Hornscheidt (Publisher): “Rassismus auf gut Deutsch. Ein kritisches Nachschlagewerk zu rassistischen Sprachhandlungen (Transdisziplinäre Genderstudien 1)“ ["Racism in Good German. A critical reference work on use of racist language, (Transdisciplinary Gender Studies 1)".] , Brandes & Apsel, Frankfurt a. M. 2010
Sozialhelden e.V.: Ramp Up – Barrierefreie Veranstaltungen planen, Veranstaltungskommunikation [Ramp Up - Planning Accessible Events, Event Communication]
Stefanowitsch, Anatol: “Eine Frage der Moral. Warum wir politisch korrekte Sprache brauchen“ ["A Question of Morality. Why we need politically correct language".], Berlin 2018