Language is a common thread that ties all of us together. It allows us to express our own ideas and thoughts while also representing our culture, value system, and group affiliations. It also expands as we seek better ways to define ourselves and our society.

Similarly, it reflects the complexity with which our lives are intertwined with technology. Our language evolves at a faster rate than ever before as technology advances. With technology, we seek to use language that can help us express intricate concepts with the least amount of ambiguity and in the most efficient manner. This can be seen from the content the developers and UI/UX designers put in to reflect software features in a way that users can comprehend. Simultaneously, technological innovations, such as the rise of emojis and social media reacts, create new possibilities for how we use language. 

With so much access to information, people, and tools because of technology, how do we ensure that these innovations are genuinely utilising the right language to reach everyone equally?

Building high-quality software and applications for a global market, as well as the components that accompany them, entails more than merely translating some menus and navigations into several languages. Technologies that best serve their customers are the ones that are  easiest to understand and use, the ones that make consumers feel that the apps are made expressly for them. These can be made possible by employing Inclusive Language. 

What exactly does inclusive language entail? 

Inclusive language is a linguistic style that seeks to avoid stereotyping or excluding specific groups of individuals based on their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Its goal is not simply to avoid inhumane or insulting phrases, but to make everyone feel welcome, whether they are a developer studying a guidebook, a learner attending an online class, or a business owner signing up for a new system.

Inclusive language entails:

• Respecting others by being courteous in all that we do, say, write, and hear, as well as by approaching every circumstance with empathy, understanding, and an open mind. 
• Giving a true and accurate picture of the world rather than one that perpetuates preconceptions and prejudices.
• Using plain language to ensure that what is spoken, written, or heard is relevant and meaningful to a larger audience, allowing everyone to feel included and represented in the language used.
• Inviting individuals to join the discourse, valuing multiple points of view, and advocating for diversity and inclusion in all of communication.

General Principles of Inclusive Language

There are no set guidelines for using inclusive language when building innovative technology, but grasping several basic principles will help you adopt a transformative and inclusive approach:

1. Make people a priority

Clients are more than their descriptors, and being reduced to a single attribute may be quite invasive. So, when referring to an individual in whom a descriptor is required, concentrate on mentioning individual identities and features that are pertinent to the story. 

For example, avoid using “a disabled learner”. Instead, use “a learner with disability”. Instead of “blind woman”, write “a woman who is blind.” When discussing skills or abilities, we should always emphasise the individual first rather than highlight their limitations and disabilities.

2. Use gender neutral terms

The way we speak shapes the possibilities we envision for our business and the people we anticipate to see in specific situations or work responsibilities. Gender neutral or inclusive language respects variety by removing assumptions of a male-as-norm vocabulary and replacing it with a gender-neutral default that is inclusive to all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Here are some examples of gender-neutral terms to use when developing a business content strategy:

3. Employ plain language

Plain language aims to be easy to read and understand, making instructions, error messages, and interface indicators more intuitive to a wider audience. It avoids verbose and confounding language and jargon, therefore using it in business content strategy, applications, and instructional materials makes it more accessible to people, even those with cognitive disabilities or those who struggle to understand complex subjects. For example, instead of writing “break a leg” into your online assessment, put “good luck.” Instead of “You knock it out of the park!”, write “You did a good job!”.

4. When in doubt, ask!

If you are unsure about how to identify a person or a group, simply ask how they like to be addressed. Inclusive language encourages businesses to be sensitive to others, to understand and empathise with them, resulting in more successful and equitable relationships.

Incorporating inclusive language into your organisation can be challenging to master since discovering inclusive formulas for many common terms and phrases can take time and effort and an honest and determined approach to have a genuine impact. However, it is worthwhile in the long run, because it allows clients and audiences to hear themselves represented in any corporate content strategy or marketing collateral. At the same time, it broadens your communication to include more people, allows you to be receptive to the views and feelings of those around you, and fosters a dialogue of transparency, openness, and inclusion to ensure everyone is treated with decency and respect.

Do you want to learn more about inclusive language and other ways to improve the delivery of equitable and inclusive content in products and services? Check out the other resources we have on our website! If you’re wondering what innovative solutions we can build to incorporate inclusive language, look through our extensive selection of products and services, and let us know how we can help your business grow. Contact us now!