Grammatical language forms used by non-binary transgender* individuals in the LGBT*QIA+ community in Berlin, Germany

Presenter Title/Affiliation

Leibniz-Zentrum Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft; Universität Humboldt

Start Date

21-5-2021 11:30 AM

Event Name

Panel discussion

Panel Number

2

Panel Chair Name

Robert Phillips

Zoom URL to Join

https://ciis.zoom.us/j/96623891761

Zoom Meeting ID

966 2389 1761

Abstract

This is a first study of grammatical gender forms used by gender non-conforming transgender* individuals in the LGBT*QIA+ community in Berlin, Germany. Within the diverse LGBT*QIA+ community, gender non-conforming transgender* individuals are a heterogeneous group, in which gender identity may be expressed linguistically in a great variety of ways. This work is our first attempt to investigate such grammatical gender forms in hopes to document and preserve them as part of a rich queer linguistic tradition in a single but very culturally diverse city, Berlin.

For our investigation into grammatical gender forms, the target group is gender non-conforming transgender* individuals currently living in Berlin, Germany. We invited 12 participants (22 ˗ 38 years old) who have lived in Berlin, Germany, for at least two years (ranging 2 ˗ 10 years). All the participants are fluent English speakers and use the English language to communicate with each other (English being their native or non-native language). Two research methods have been used in this study: Systematic Self-Observation and an Interview Questionnaire.

We have found that non-conforming transgender* individuals in Berlin, being linguistically heterogeneous, employ a great variety of ways in order to express non-binary or non-conforming gender identity. We have investigated the following six major topics concerning the diverse ways to queer linguistic gender: (i) Queering conventionally gendered language forms; (ii) using gender-neutral forms to queer familial terms; (iii) queering pronouns; (iv) using the playful and affective animal role play; (v) queering language to describe babies and young individuals; and (vi) language mixing.

Grammatical gender forms used by gender non-conforming transgender* individuals in Berlin are highly interesting to investigate because they create and use new lexicon items and so-called queer grammar to avoid linguistic gender binaries, a topic which is drastically understudied in the linguistic literature. These linguistic innovations are an integral part of LGBT*QIA+ communities by producing new roles, positionalities, and ways of establishing the LGBT*QIA+ membership.

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May 21st, 11:30 AM May 21st, 12:00 PM

Grammatical language forms used by non-binary transgender* individuals in the LGBT*QIA+ community in Berlin, Germany

This is a first study of grammatical gender forms used by gender non-conforming transgender* individuals in the LGBT*QIA+ community in Berlin, Germany. Within the diverse LGBT*QIA+ community, gender non-conforming transgender* individuals are a heterogeneous group, in which gender identity may be expressed linguistically in a great variety of ways. This work is our first attempt to investigate such grammatical gender forms in hopes to document and preserve them as part of a rich queer linguistic tradition in a single but very culturally diverse city, Berlin.

For our investigation into grammatical gender forms, the target group is gender non-conforming transgender* individuals currently living in Berlin, Germany. We invited 12 participants (22 ˗ 38 years old) who have lived in Berlin, Germany, for at least two years (ranging 2 ˗ 10 years). All the participants are fluent English speakers and use the English language to communicate with each other (English being their native or non-native language). Two research methods have been used in this study: Systematic Self-Observation and an Interview Questionnaire.

We have found that non-conforming transgender* individuals in Berlin, being linguistically heterogeneous, employ a great variety of ways in order to express non-binary or non-conforming gender identity. We have investigated the following six major topics concerning the diverse ways to queer linguistic gender: (i) Queering conventionally gendered language forms; (ii) using gender-neutral forms to queer familial terms; (iii) queering pronouns; (iv) using the playful and affective animal role play; (v) queering language to describe babies and young individuals; and (vi) language mixing.

Grammatical gender forms used by gender non-conforming transgender* individuals in Berlin are highly interesting to investigate because they create and use new lexicon items and so-called queer grammar to avoid linguistic gender binaries, a topic which is drastically understudied in the linguistic literature. These linguistic innovations are an integral part of LGBT*QIA+ communities by producing new roles, positionalities, and ways of establishing the LGBT*QIA+ membership.

https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/lavlang/2021/friday/14