Feminatives and Gendergap: Limitations of the Derivational Process in the Languages of the World

The research focuses on ways to eliminate gender asymmetry in languages ​​and the restrictions arising in the process of gender-correct and gender-neutral words derivation. The first part of this research is a study of feminatives (gender-specific nouns of feminine gender) in the Russian language. The history of feminatives derivation process, productive suffixes -nits(a), -its(a), -in(ya), -yn(ya), -sh(a), -k(a), derivational models and words connotations as well as limitations in contemporary word derivation were studied. In the second part of the research, the elimination principles of so-called Sprachsexismus (linguistic sexism in the German language), including both increasing the visibility of women in language and gender neutralization are examined. An analysis was made of the practice of using feminatives in the Russian and German-speaking Internet environment and the main patterns of use were identified. We also studied paired noun forms and graphical means of shortening such as a non-standard typographic Binnen-I, colon, parentheses, exclamation mark, slash as well as gendergap concept and use of graphic non-letter characters of underscore and an asterisk. Also, the formation of gender-neutral words using -x, @, apostrophe and letter indicator was studied. For each form of inclusive word derivation, limitations were identified and explained.