As instructors, the language you use can have a great impact on the classroom climate Model inclusive language - Eberly Center - Carnegie Mellon University (cmu.edu) . Often, the basic rules or idioms within a language are exclusionary and contribute to the marginalisation of minority or other groups. For instance, in both German and French, the noun ‘judge’ is male, which causes speakers to refer to the judge as “he”. This hides the fact that many judges today are women and fails to present them as role models to other women in the classroom. Using inclusive language means using vocabulary that avoids biases, exclusion, and stereotyping based on someone’s (minority) identity. Using inclusive language helps to make sure that all people in the classroom feel like they belong and are respected and valued as they are. 

For information on how to implement inclusive language in learning materials, read inclusive language in learning materials.

Tools

This handout repared by the UU anthropology toolbox diversity in Education provides reflective questions around language relevant to an academic classroom and provides tips on how to express (both verbally and in writing) issues related to literature, political opinions, worldviews, news media, discrimination, violence, and so on. Some examples of questions teachers might ask themselves are: 

• When discussing a sensitive topic in class about a historically marginalized group, is there a tendency to affiliate certain students to that group and expect them to respond as a representative?   
• Are arguments presented as self-evident and thereby discouraging listeners to think differently?   
• When gender is unidentified, do you tend to describe by always using the word ‘he’? For more examples of reflective questions and suggestions for dealing with these situations see the handout.

In addition, the Diversity Council Australia has emphasized the importance of language for building inclusion or exclusion at work (which can also be applicable to Higher Education) and has listed steps that are important for inclusive language: 

1. Context matters: Sometimes people can use terms about themselves or their friends that are not appropriate for others to use about someone in a another context.  

2. Keep an open mind: Be open to changing what you have always thought is ‘normal’, respectful and appropriate to say.  

3. If in doubt, ask: If you’re not sure what terminology someone prefers, just ask them!  

4. Focus on the person: Focus on the person first, rather than the demographic group they belong to.  Only refer to an individual’s age, cultural background, gender etc. if it is relevant. 

5. Keep calm and respond: Sometimes our unconscious biases mean we can say things that exclude others – even when we do not intend to. 

Additional Resources

For a Guide for Inclusive Language in Court and in Legal Documents refer to CULTEXP Guide for Inclusive Language in Court and in Legal Documents – YouTube