Italy bans the schwa: safeguarding linguistic integrity in official communication
In the broader context of a cultural and institutional realignment inspired by conservative values, Italy has taken a decisive step to protect its linguistic heritage. The government has moved to prohibit the use of non-standard symbols in official contexts, marking a clear boundary between ideological experimentation and formal communication.
The Ministry of Education bans the use of asterisks and schwa in official documents
The Italian Ministry of Education and Merit has issued a nationwide circular to all educational institutions, explicitly forbidding the use of the asterisk (*) and the schwa (ə) in official school communications. The measure underscores the importance of Italian as a precise, structured language and reaffirms its role as a tool for clear and consistent institutional expression.
A measure designed to protect the language from confusion
The circular highlights the risk posed by the arbitrary introduction of symbols not rooted in Italian grammar, warning that such practices may compromise the intelligibility of institutional texts. Symbols such as the schwa, often employed by activist circles to introduce forms of gender-neutrality, are now officially excluded from scholastic communication. The Ministry appeals to existing linguistic norms and urges institutions to use language that is accessible, comprehensible, and structurally sound.
Support from the Accademia della Crusca
Italy’s foremost linguistic authority, the Accademia della Crusca, has long voiced concern over the misuse of symbols like the schwa. Its members have repeatedly emphasized the negative impact these insertions have on text clarity and cohesion—particularly for visually impaired individuals, for whom text-to-speech software fails to interpret such symbols properly.
Arcangeli and the linguists’ response
Among the most prominent voices in the debate is linguist and university professor Massimo Arcangeli, a vocal opponent of the schwa and other forms of what he terms “imposed inclusivity.” As the promoter of the petition No to the schwa, Arcangeli denounced the phenomenon as a form of “ideological colonization of language,” arguing that altering the structure of Italian with artificial insertions leads to exclusion rather than inclusion, and ultimately undermines communication.
An elitist drift disguised as progress
The schwa has gained traction primarily within academic and activist spheres, giving rise to a new linguistic orthodoxy that alienates more than it includes. Educators and scholars have pointed out that such practices ultimately isolate language, making it less democratic while paradoxically claiming to do the opposite.
When form overtakes content
The introduction of nonstandard symbols has shifted focus from communication to ideological formalism. What was framed as openness has often taken the shape of self-referential excess, confusing readers and students alike. In some cases, educators have suggested that promoting such innovations within the classroom should result in disciplinary measures, ranging from formal warnings to suspension.
A return to rigor, not censorship
The circular does not prohibit discussion about the evolution of language but sets a clear line between intellectual exploration and institutional usage. Official language must remain free of ambiguity and cannot serve as a vehicle for ideologically motivated experiments. The failure of the schwa to gain widespread traction confirms that it remained a marginal, short-lived phenomenon, driven more by editorial marketing than genuine reformist necessity.
A passing trend with lasting consequences
With this decision, the Ministry closes a chapter that had lingered for too long. The message is clear: language cannot be reshaped through arbitrary or alien symbols. Touted as revolutionary, the schwa has revealed itself to be a fragile artifice, an attempted reform that fostered confusion rather than inclusion. Italian schools are now expected to prioritize clarity, precision, and respect for established linguistic norms.
Cover photo: Massimo Arcangeli (b. 1959)
Linguist and professor. One of the leading critics of the schwa, launching a national petition against the ideological distortion of language and denouncing the use of nonstandard symbols as an elitist and anti-communicative drift.