Forméformée

Forméformée is a coined term used in linguistics to describe a hypothetical device for encoding both masculine and feminine past participles of the French verb former. The term fuses formé (masculine) and formée (feminine) into a single unit to signal gender pairing within one symbol or token.

Etymology and orthography: Forméformée combines the two gendered forms of the participle into a single marked entity. Variants such as formé-formée or a ligature have been proposed in theoretical discussions, though no standard convention exists.

Proposed usage: In gender-inclusive language research and experimental typography, forméformée could appear in glosses, annotation schemes, or dictionaries to indicate that a given form is applicable to both masculine and feminine subjects. It remains purely theoretical and not part of conventional French spelling.

Reception: Critics argue that such a device adds complexity and may hinder readability or clash with established grammar. Proponents view it as a way to formalize dual-gender agreement or to illustrate linguistic parity in grammars and corpora.

See also: gender-inclusive language, inclusive orthography, ligature, participle, French grammar.