Rewriting Language: How Literary Texts Can Promote Inclusive Language Use

by Christiane Luck

Extensively studied and heavily debated, inclusive language is a hot topic. Despite decades of research and scholarship, findings on its importance slip into neglect. How do we convince speakers of the importance of inclusive language? Christiane Luck’s Rewriting Language provides one possible read fiction.
 
By engaging readers with the issue, novels spread awareness and promote linguistic change. Novels have the power to paint the problems presented with accessibility and spark change. Analyzing five iconic literary texts, including Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness , Verena Stefan’s Häutungen , Marge Piercy’s Woman on the Edge of Time , and June Arnold’s The Cook and the Carpenter, Luck dives into the possibilities and challenges of linguistic neutrality. Rewriting Language illustrates the link between language and imagination. As Luck concludes, novels are valuable tools to embolden inclusive language use.
 

204 pages, Hardcover

Published July 15, 2020

Reviews

[tinyflower.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive and well-structured analysis and discussion on the relevance of language in societal change and how literary texts can help promote awareness regarding inclusive language. A productive read for those working between literature and linguistics, gender studies, queer theory, and social studies.

[FrankyReadsBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️

This took a WHILE to complete. The book was a bit different than expected, but I'd still say worth the read.