With a document suggesting changes to current nomenclature.
PAMA (The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance) which features large audio companies including Shure, Sennheiser, and Audio-Technica have released a document detailing new terms for updating outdated language in the audio world.
What you need to know:
- The Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance has released a press statement and document with aims of changing names of certain terms for describing audio equipment.
- Terms like master/slave which is used in reference to audio clocking, is suggested to change to leader/follower.
- They have said it is a living document, which will continue to evolve with input from the industry.
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“The goal of this project is to introduce and create normalcy around neutral language in the audio industry,” said PAMA Inclusion Committee member Dawn Birr (Sennheiser).
After submitting a survey to its members, they arrived at solutions to counter some of the currently gendered and/or outdated nomenclature within audio.
Examples of terms that they are recommending changes to include master/slave to leader/follower in relation to audio clocking, male/female to plug/socket in reference to cable connections and whitelist/blacklist to inclusion/exclusion for audio networking.
PAMA have said that this document which is in its first version will be a living document, continuing to evolve with input from the audio industry to aim for a more inclusive environment for all.
“The intent is for PAMA members to recommend adopting a framework within their organizations for the implementation of unified terminology across the industry, in the spirit of inclusivity and consistency,” explained PAMA Board Chair-Elect and Inclusion Committee member Karam Kaul (Harman).
Hopefully these changes will help spark a more inclusive and level playing field for all to engage in the audio technology world.
For further reading, view the press release here and the document released here.
