LGBTIQA+ Multilingual Terminology

LGBTIQA+ Multilingual Terminology

Some LGBTIQA+ community members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds struggled to express themselves using their own language within their own culture. Part of the reason is a lack of a fully developed lexicon in this space. Professional translators and interpreters also face the lack of a well-established LGBTIQA+ glossary when they come across the relevant topics in the course of their work. This project sets out to address these issues.

Description

The project had the aim to create a safe, supportive and empowering home for the multicultural LGBTIQA+ communities. The outcomes of the project focused on the production of monolingual, bilingual and multilingual terminology to authentically represent the identities of LGBTIQA+ communities´ members in English, Arabic, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Korean, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. These target languages are the languages most relevant to RMIT city campus and the demography of the City of Melbourne.

The project used a co-design methodology, collaborating with translators and the AGMC (Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council), to work with LGBTIQA+ communities´ members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who had lived experiences of the intersectional challenges in gender diversity and language discordance. 

After extensive research and consultation, we compiled a comprehensive list of 139 LGBTIQA+ most critical terms in English. Guided by the insights of the community members and their LOTE input, the linguists/translators involved in this project worked to transform the original English compilation into the LGBTIQA+ multilingual glossaries now hosted on the project website Rainbow Terminology.

The glossary also offers an invaluable resource for translators and interpreters who work with LGBTIQA+ communities. The project included a series of awareness training sessions for these professionals and the above website includes a list of trained allies as well. This list is a helpful resource for organisations and individuals seeking to employ a translator or interpreter who has committed to being an inclusive professional with knowledge of the LGBTIQA+ genre.

SERC researchers

  • Miranda Lai
  • Erika Gonzalez

Project dates

2021 - 2023

Funding body

City of Melbourne

Outputs

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

More information
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information