@VinceNet,

We are witnessing the same thing with masculine and feminine forms in Russian, too. Maybe I'm too conservative but I don't like these changes - they feel really artificial. These changes are "from the outside", and I think they will not take roots in the language. Just for a comparison, the young generation pick up lots of internet terms from English, "russianize" it and use in a daily life (i'm not saying if it's good or bad now, it's a separate topic) but it happens naturally, and we can do nothing but embrace these innovations:)

@Som,

As for Esperanto, I couldn't agree more. I tried learning it but at some point (very soon) it became boring - no movies, no poems in this language, there is no culture behind it.

Speaking of lingua franca, I think English is on its way. We'll see.

I heard at a first time .

Interested

Esperanto isn't going anywhere. Instead, sooner or later English looks set to become what Esperanto was supposed to be. But even so, I doubt any language will ever become a single global lingua franca.

Ahhh the obsession with language "purity"... I think it will of course depend on the genre of text (text as a broad term). One will need to learn how to use "verbal hygiene" in their academic discourse or job interviews for formal occasions. But is there a point in trying to impose it on others when the point is more communicative? I doubt it.

If I take a concrete example from a language I know... In French, there are a lot of efforts now in order to have both the masculine and feminine forms visible (as opposed to in the past where the masculine form would "imply" the feminine form). I think it's a good thing and it is easily done in formal writing. But I don't think this can be a point of contention in informal conversation... Although it might become one in the future.

I use the more gender-neutral forms when I write, but when I talk it is not yet a habit. Does that mean I have low verbal hygiene haha? it's an interesting topic :)

Languages change constantly, to the great distress of ‘proper’ speakers. Written language changes more slowly, and I understand that in some places, the written and spoken languages are so different they have to be learned separately. Then you get into educated speech vs street talk, class distinctions, dialects, etc. I used to get indignant with ‘poor’ grammar, or people who get upset with ‘political correctness’, but after studying linguistics, I just sigh. Languages change. Word meanings change.

as for English, I’d like to see some gender neutral pronouns referring to people. Turkish does. And French needs a gender neutral ending for nouns, so you don’t have to use both masculine and feminine words to be sure you are being inclusive.