The "Inclusive Language" and the strengthening of identity ties in the New Year’s Eve speeches of presidents of Catalonia

The aim of this article is to analyze a selection of New Year’s Eve speeches delivered by the presidents of Catalonia in terms of the presence of so-called “inclusive language”. The examined texts all date from the past fifteen years (2008-2022), so they were delivered after the enactment of the Organic Law 3/2007 on the effective equality of women and men. The choice of Catalonia as the subject of this study is particular-ly interesting due to socio-political circumstances surrounding this period, such as the economic crisis, the referendum on the independence, the suspension of autonomy and the imprisonment of pro-independence leaders. Therefore, while the speeches analyzed will undoubtedly emphasize the strengthening of identity and belonging, it is also relevant to examine whether these discourses reflect the use of linguistic means aimed at emphasizing the presence of women.