2023 Issue 4 Jul/Aug Focus - Mid-South Magazine

Hispanic and Latin
communities around the
world have been using and
modifying these genderinclusive
structures for
some time and I think there
is more of a consensus
starting to build.
When I started teaching
my own classes with LC
Spanish, I knew I was going
to have students of all
genders and identities, so
it was important to me that
I teach inclusive language
throughout. In a time when
trans, non-binary, and
gender nonconforming
folks are under attack,
I set out to create a
learning environment
where students feel safe,
recognized, and affirmed. I
also want all of my students
to have access to the
appropriate language when
they encounter someone
who doesn't identify only
with the masculine or
feminine.
What are the challenges
to linguistic inclusivity in
a language like Spanish?
And how are those being
addressed?
It's been a topic of
conversation and debate
for many years on how to
make the Spanish language
more inclusive to different
genders because Spanish
is an inherently machista
and binary language. For
example, if there is one
masculine presence in a
group of people, the words
for "we," "y'all," and "they
(plural)" all default to the
masculine form, even if
the rest of the group is
all feminine or nonbinary.
Additionally, all nouns
are either masculine or
feminine (unlike German,
for example, which also
has a neutral). One early
attempt to include more
people was using the
@ symbol to represent
both the masculine and
feminine endings. So
instead of using "nosotros"
(masculine) or "nosotras"
(feminine) for "us/we"
it would be "nosotr@s"
or "Latin@" instead of
"Latino" or "Latina." This
is problematic because
it reinforces the gender
binary and excludes any
other variation in gender,
erasing nonbinary people.
Another intermediate
solution has been to
use the letter "x" as a
substitute. So for example
"nosotrxs" or "Latinx." This
is generally more inclusive,
but ends up being pretty
much unpronounceable in
Spanish. Another issue with
these two options is that
neither one has a gender
neutral subject pronoun
(like the singular "they" in
English). The consensus
I've been seeing lately and
what I teach in my classes
is to replace the masculine
or feminine ending with
"e" (nosotres, Latine).
This also comes with the
benefit of a gender neutral
subject pronoun, "elle."
It is relatively easy to
pronounce, and it generally
makes sense grammatically.
In addition to pronouns
and new endings for
traditionally "masculine"
and "feminine" nouns or
adjectives, are there other
developments happening
in inclusive language
options for Spanish?
I think this is an area
where the language can
still grow. I haven't seen
good gender-neutral
alternatives to words like
"madre" (mother), "padre"
(father), "padres" (parents).
In many cases though, the
gender neutral "e" ending
helps modify gendered
nouns and adjectives. For
example, when talking
about professions, you
could say "abogade"
instead of "abogada" or
"abogado" for lawyer.
This is all really hopeful to
hear. Do you have an idea
of what the reception has
been to these additions
and adaptations to the
language? Are queer
communities facing any
pushback or criticism over
them?
It has been a mixed
reception, from what I have
observed. I think in the past
few years queer Spanishspeaking
communities have
embraced gender-neutral
and inclusive language
more and are now getting
traction in pushing it out
to the broader Spanishspeaking
world. But at the
beginning lots of people
rejected the term Latinx.
The Spanish-speaking
world is incredibly diverse,
and there are conservative,
reactionary segments
to it. Plenty of Spanishspeakers
reject genderneutral
language because
they are not accepting
of trans and nonbinary
identities in the first place.
Some people also see the
words Latinx or Latine as
a U.S.-centric imposition
of language and ideology.
When I introduce genderneutral
and inclusive
language in my classes, I
make sure to point out that
not every Spanish-speaker
my students encounter
will know or accept that
language.
Is there anything else
we should know about
inclusive language
practices in Spanish
specifically, or in non-
English languages
generally?
A good rule of thumb for
inclusivity in any language
is to follow the lead of
the people who hold the
identity you are describing.
You can always ask people
what words they prefer to
use to refer to themselves.
This also goes for identities
other than gender and
sexuality. Spanish is
starting to come around
on having more respectful
and inclusive words for
describing race, ethnicity
and disability, for example.
I think that vocabulary is
vitally important to learn
as well because of the
intersectionality of queer
identities.
Additionally, participating
in a live Spanish class, and
learning another language
in general, helps sharpen
the skill of correcting
yourself when you make
a mistake. This is a really
necessary skill for being
in relationship with people
experiencing a transition
(using different pronouns,
for example). You have to
learn to correct yourself in
the moment, perhaps study
the structure on your own
time, and move on quickly
from mistakes so they don't
derail a conversation.
JUL+AUG 2023 | focuslgbt.com | Memphis Green 33