Autorizzazione Tribunale di Bergamo n° 04 del 9 Aprile 2018 – Periodico trimestrale – Anno III – Numero 9 – Dicembre 2020 – Direttrice Responsabile Valentina Dolciotti – Stampa: Sestanteinc – Bergamo Dolciotti – Stampa: Valentina Anno III – Numero 9 Dicembre 2020 DirettriceAprile trimestrale Responsabile 2018 – Periodico di Bergamo – n° 04 del 9 Tribunale Autorizzazione LANGUAGE COVER STORY, LUCIANO CANFORA Tiziano Colombi 1 GRANDANGOLO a cura di panoramix54 2 | DIVERCITY | NUMERO 9 – DICEMBRE 2020 DIVERCITY | NUMERO 9 – DICEMBRE 2020 | 3 "It was necessary to take advantage of it to train readers instead of filling their heads: not dictate opinions, but teach them to judge for themselves. The thing was not simple: readers often demanded answers, and you shouldn't give them an impression of ignorance, doubt, inconsistency. But this was precisely the com- mitment: to deserve their trust instead of stealing it from them" The Mandarins, Simone de Beauvoir, 1954 THE MANDARINS Editorial, Valentina Dolciotti ooking to the news, unfortunately, never disappoints. that a pornographic video portraying a teacher (and a kin- To discuss language and the responsibility it always dergarten teacher, at that! If she had taught in middle school, carries with it, I can't help but take a position regar- that would have been fine, or even in primary school... but ding the infamous story (the ideal sequel to ‘Piccola in kindergarten, never!) spreads among a group of mothers. LStoria Ignobile’ by Italian singer-songwriter Francesco Guccini Mothers, in fact, are another notoriously asexual category, – if only he would go back to writing songs) of the young except for that one moment of sacrifice and elevation (for 22-year-old woman from Turin, who was unfairly fired due to the homeland, for God, for the family) in which she gave birth her erotic photos and videos being shared. to a child who became one of the students of the teacher The way in which this piece of news was communicated, in question. written and then read by millions of Italians is the real ‘ignoble Indeed, one of the proposed headlines does not even specify story’. National and local newspapers used headlines such as to whom the teacher is thought to have sent the ‘porno- (I quote verbatim): graphic videos and photos’. It probably happened like this - The kindergarten teacher fired because of a pornographic – while she was having breakfast, she randomly sent them video; to her contacts in a moment of euphoria because women - Kindergarten teacher is fired for a red-light video broadcast are capricious, it is known; in fact, until 1963 women were by her boyfriend; unable to become magistrates ‘because women are unsuited - Sex: pornographic video from the kindergarten teacher in to exercising judgement and balance’. the mothers' group chat; The last headline is, without a doubt, the best: ‘No bigotry, just - Kindergarten teacher sends pornographic videos and pho- the headmistress’ incompetence.’ I find it brilliant. First of all tos: fired; because it immediately clarifies – just in case it might occur - Teacher fired: no bigotry, only the headmistress’ incompe- to anyone in a flash of immediately dampened lucidity, that tence. this is a case of bigotry (and moralism, and falsehood, and Let's spend a few minutes analysing these headlines, imme- ‘respectability’, and machismo, and sexism) – that no, there diately silencing the first hypothetical protest that we might is no bigotry here. We simply have an inexperienced head- be met with: ‘It's just a headline, if you read the article...’. mistress who had never before found herself faced with a No. The percentage of people who only read the headlines case of defamation and who was not at all accustomed to in a newspaper, especially online, far exceeds that of those bureaucracy, regulations (and, evidently, common sense), and who stop to read the entire article (70%). Having clarified so unwisely pushed for and facilitated the resignation of the this, let's go back to the words chosen for the aforementio- shameless teacher. ned headlines. And here it makes sense to refer to her as a teacher, yes, What reason is there to point out that the woman in que- because a headmistress is an employer and personally re- stion is a kindergarten teacher? Are teachers asexual? Or will sponsible for her employees and trade union relations and it you only be fired if you are a teacher and take pornographic is unacceptable that she used a totally private video to force photos, but not if you are a baker? her employee to resign by defining her as being ‘Incompatible If being extremely precise about reporting all the facts had with the work of an educator’. Having sent erotic photos and been about professionalism (which, by the way, I don't think) videos to your boyfriend certainly does not undermine the then, in the title, it would also have been useful to include that professionalism of a teacher (or a lawyer, or a pharmacist, or the ‘boyfriend’ was an ex-boyfriend. a minister). Yet this is the message that has come down to us. This detail is important in the context of revenge porn (be- And here, too, it is a question of language. Not necessarily cause it is, in fact, about revenge). verbal. Often the unspoken is just as strong. Often prejudi- Another example: ‘Sex: pornographic video of the kindergar- ces scream in our heads without leaving room for thought, ten teacher in the mothers' group chat.’ According to the reflection, or even just a little compassion. investigation, the video was released, first of all, by her ex- Unfortunately, I have not found in the media a real effort to boyfriend, violating the law (a detail that perhaps in a headline communicate this news objectively; indeed, it seems that the could have been summarised with the word ‘crime’ at the pettiest stereotypes have been cheerfully trotted out, preten- beginning, instead of ‘sex’), in a chat shared with friends on a ding not to know how important words were and are. How soccer team (therefore men, not mothers). much they can hurt, violate, traumatise, hide, cage, label. How Unfortunately, in Italy in 2020, it creates more of a stir to in- carefully they must be chosen, especially by those who, by sinuate (and, therefore, to leave to the imagination) the idea trade, produce them in large quantities. 4 | DIVERCITY | NUMERO 9 – DICEMBRE 2020 5 08 Parole O_Stili 46 Is diversity diverse? 12 Lessici inclusivi 48 The brain and languages 14 Gender (un)covered 51 An alliance for equal opportunities 16 The prison of power 52 Ageism 18 Diversity is not a threat but an 56 Sustainability in perspective opportunity 58 She's the one who works 20 Architette, the plural feminine form of architect 61 10 questions to 22 Diversity in school books 64 Cover story: Luciano Canfora 24 Are you managing your emotional 70 Culture columns wake? Music, Books, Fashion, Childhood, Art, Cinema, Theatre 26 Linguistic law and culture 86-133 Dossier: 28 The universal language of beauty COMPANIES STORYTELLING 30 We are the words we speak 134 Companies columns Rice and silk 36 The irresistible power of the unsaid 40 Thinking of differences 32 The art of language Beyond the mirror Point break 38 Language @work 44 The power of language 34 Language is a serious thing Wonder 6 | DIVERCITY | NUMERO 9 – DICEMBRE 2020 DIVERCITY | NUMERO 9 – DICEMBRE 2020 | 7 nched via WhatsApp that has turned into aim of inspiring us to choose the right a journey full of satisfaction, teachings words, words that know how to overco- Rosy Russo and a lot of hope for change. me differences, overcome prejudices and The first stop on this journey was ta- break down the walls of misunderstan- ken in Trieste (where the Parole O_Stili ding. Words that free us from labels, that association is based) in February 2017, do not isolate, that do not make us feel when the Non Hostile Communication wrong. It was born with the ambition of Manifesto was presented in front of an becoming the manifesto of those who are VIRTUAL IS REAL audience of over 1200 people, a paper at risk of being marginalised every day. written by several collaborators in our Among the ten principles included in the t this time, when we must keep insults have in common? They are all ai- community and which collects ten ‘sty- latter, my favourite is certainly the one our distance, kind words can med at women. According to the latest le’ principles that aim to reduce, stem that is best at telling us how we can con- become the gentlest caresses SWG survey for our association, in fact, and fight negative language online. The cretely begin creating a path of inclusion and most intense hugs. women are among online trolls’ favourite first signatory of the manifesto and our and equality, number five: ‘Words are a AIt is with this simple sentence that we targets. In this unfortunate ranking, ho- guest of honour was Gianni Morandi; an bridge. I cultivate curiosity, openness, want to begin to talk about what Parole mosexual people are on the top step of indisputable example of operating with the positive dialogue that arises when O_Stili is and what it does. the podium, receiving +15% insults com- great style on social networks. mental, social, cultural and hierarchical Today, too often, words are chosen and pared to the previous year, followed by From that moment onwards, the mani- barriers are overcome. My language can used in an unconscious, imprecise, casual migrants (+9%) and by people of Jewish festo has rapidly spread from bulletin create inclusion and citizenship.’ and thoughtless way. Most of the religion or culture (+12).