Non-binary language use in a German novel A case study of Kim de l'Horizon's Blutbuch

Languages differ in terms of the strategies used to derive (non-binary) inclusive language. In many languages, pronouns present the primary target (e.g., English, Swedish). In other languages, for instance German, inclusive language also affects other parts of grammar, such as nouns. To date, research on German gender-inclusive language has primarily focussed on mental representations, speakers’ attitudes, or use in newspapers. This contribution investigates the use of inclusive language in the recent novel Blutbuch (2022). A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the novel reveals the use of different examples of inclusive language, involving, for instance, the gender star (Student*innen ‘students’), in addition to traditional forms. Inclusive language forms not only refer to specific non-binary individuals, but also to groups of unknown gender. As such, they seem to be an addition to the German gender system, rather than a replacement of existing forms.