Not so “generic” masculines: empirical studies on interpretations in Spanish and French

Abstract

In the debate over the validity of the use of so-called "generic masculines," academic positionings often refer to the interpretation of these forms, usually without citing empirical studies examining such interpretations. These empirical studies, which are often neglected in the debate, seek to examine through experiments or surveys whether masculine forms referring to human beings generate a specific interpretation (referring only to males) or a generic one (referring to human beings of either sex). The present review article proposes to remedy this lack of attention to the empirical aspects of the debate by first reviewing the existing literature on Spanish and then comparing it with the literature dealing with French data, thus forming an body of empirical evidence that allows for the discussion and understanding of current debates around (for example) the relevance or otherwise of inclusive language.