Translating Intersex
By Curtis E. Hinkle
9 December 2008
Since OII was founded in 2003, problems with translation have been a constant issue that we have dealt with. OII’s policy has always been to rely on native speakers who are intersex and members of OII to help us resolve translation problems between different languages that our members speak.
You will notice that we have two different French language websites. This was necessary because the members from Quebec did not have the same translation for “intersex” as the members from French-speaking countries in Europe. The members in Quebec preferred the French word “intersexué” whereas the Europeans preferred the term “intersexe”, which is simply a loan translation directly from the English. There were good reasons for using both terms but the members from Quebec felt that “intersexe” was too English and sounded more like an identity, whereas “intersexué” was a French word which described a body, not an identity. However, the problem with the word “intersexué” is that it has to be written as either masculine, “intersexué” or feminine, “intersexuée”. This is not true of the word “intersexe” which does not change according to the rules for masculine/feminine nouns and adjectives in the French language. Thus, the official name of OII in French is:
However, the name of the European group is
In German, one often sees "intersex" translated as “intersexuell”. However, that is not the translation of this term that the founder of OII-Germany preferred. "Intersexuell" gives the impression that one is dealing with a “sexual” issue and there is a term in German for “sex” which is “Geschlecht”. The term “intergeschechtlich” makes it clear that what OII-Germany is dealing with is the sex of the individual, not primarily “sexual” issues. Therefore, the official name of OII-Germany is
This past month, I have been working closely with the founder of OII’s Chinese language group. And once again, we have discussed the translation of “intersex” into Chinese. This is not a simple task. This is what the founder of the Chinese speaking organisation for OII discussed with me. I found it very interesting and think that it offers some insight into the Chinese “spirit” as well as the Chinese language.
“Intersex” is a newer word for “hermaphrodite” in English. However, in Chinese there are not two different words for these two terms. Usually, we use the concept of Yin and Yang to describe intersex people in Chinese and it is pronounced yin yang ren, “ren” meaning “human”.
In general, there are negative connotations associated with this particular term in Chinese. However, our board member who is the founder of our Chinese speaking organisation has explained to me why this is the term that the organisation prefers.
There are other terms meaning “two-sexed human” which reinforce the binary concept of sex and gender that the organisation does not consider suitable even though they may seem more positive to most people.
The concept of Yen and Yang has a more dynamic and interactive status which Chinese people believe constitutes the universe. It is a good expression which incorporates both the concepts of variation and fluidity of sex and gender. It allows for changeability and freedom from duality.
However, there are still negative connotations with “yin yang ren” which may be because of the idea that it is associated with “an unbalanced state”. However, that concept can be challenged and therefore, OII will use this as the translation.
For more information on the philosophy behind this:
For a list of articles by Curtis E. Hinkle: Click here
