Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika –
Зарубежная лингвистика и
лингводидактика – Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
The impact of gender characteristics in occupational
lexicon on translation
Madina DAVLYATOVA
1
Termez State University
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received November 2024
Received in revised form
10 December 2024
Accepted 25 December 2024
Available online
25 January 2025
This paper explores the influence of gender characteristics in
the occupational lexicon on the translation process. It examines
how gendered language, cultural perceptions of professions,
and linguistic structures affect translation outcomes. The study
also analyzes how different languages handle gender-neutral
terms and the challenges faced by translators in maintaining
accuracy while respecting socio-cultural norms. By examining
various linguistic traditions and their treatment of occupational
gender distinctions, this research aims to provide insights into
the evolving nature of language and its impact on
communication.
2181-3701/© 2024 in Science LLC.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol3-iss1
This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru
Keywords:
gender,
occupational lexicon,
translation,
linguistic structures,
socio-cultural norms,
gender-neutral language,
cultural adaptation.
Mehnat leksikonasidagi jinsiy xususiyatlarning tarjimaga
ta’siri
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar:
gender,
kasbiy leksika,
tarjima,
lingvistik tuzilmalar,
ijtimoiy-madaniy me’yorlar,
gender-neytral til,
madaniy moslashuv.
Ushbu maqola kasbiy leksikadagi gender xususiyatlarining
tarjima jarayoniga ta’sirini o‘rganadi. U gender tili, kasblarning
madaniy idroki va lingvistik tuzilmalar tarjima natijalariga
qanday ta’sir qilishini o‘rganadi. Tadqiqot shuningdek, turli
tillarda gender-neytral atamalarni qanday ishlatishi va ijtimoiy-
madaniy me’yorlarga rioya qilgan holda aniqlikni saqlashda
tarjimonlar duch keladigan qiyinchiliklarni tahlil qiladi. Turli
tilshunoslik an’analarini va ularning kasbiy gender farqlariga
munosabatini o‘rganish orqali ushbu tadqiqot tilning
rivojlanayotgan tabiati va uning muloqotga ta’siri haqida
tushuncha berishga qaratilgan.
1
Independent Researcher, Termez State University. E-mail: Madinadavlyatova1988@gmail.com
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 1 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
317
Влияние гендерных характеристик профессиональной
лексики на перевод
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
гендер,
профессиональная
лексика,
перевод,
языковые структуры,
социокультурные нормы,
гендерно-нейтральный
язык,
культурная адаптация.
В данной статье исследуется влияние гендерных
характеристик профессионального лексикона на процесс
перевода. Анализируется, каким образом гендерный язык,
культурное восприятие профессий и лингвистические
структуры отражаются на итогах перевода. Кроме того,
внимание уделяется тому, как различные языки
обрабатывают
гендерно-нейтральные
термины,
и
выявляются проблемы, с которыми сталкиваются
переводчики при сохранении точности перевода в
условиях соблюдения социокультурных норм. Изучая
языковые традиции и их отношение к профессиональным
гендерным различиям, исследование направлено на
освещение эволюционирующей природы языка и его
влияния на коммуникацию.
INTRODUCTION
Language plays a critical role in shaping social perceptions, and the occupational
lexicon is one area where gender influences linguistic expression. Many languages
encode gender into professional titles, which may pose challenges for translation,
especially between languages with different gender structures [1]. This paper
investigates these challenges and explores strategies for effective translation while
considering gender sensitivity [2]. Furthermore, this paper will examine the impact of
historical developments, contemporary linguistic trends, and policy implications for
gendered occupational terms in various linguistic contexts [3]. In many languages,
occupational terms are explicitly gendered. For example, English distinguishes between
"actor" and "actress," while other languages, such as French and Spanish, use masculine
and feminine forms (e.g., "acteur/actrice" in French, "profesor/profesora" in Spanish) [4].
Translating such terms into languages without grammatical gender or with a different
approach to gender neutrality can be complex. The presence of gendered occupational
terminology often reflects deep-seated social conventions that must be addressed in
translation practices [5]. The alliance between translation studies and feminism
therefore emerged out of a common intellectual and institutional context. As fields of
inquiry that emerged during the 1970s and gained increasing institutional recognition
through the 1980s, translation studies and feminist thought are similarly grounded in the
dynamics of a period which gave strong prominence to language. Translation studies
have been impelled by many of the concerns central to feminism: the distrust of
traditional hierarchies and gendered roles, deep suspicion of rules defining fidelity, and
the questioning of universal standards of meaning and value. Both feminism and
translation are concerned by the way “secondariness” comes to be defined and
canonized; both are tools for a critical understanding of difference as it is represented in
language. The most compelling questions for both fields remain: how are social, sexual
and historical differences expressed in language and how can these differences be
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 1 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
318
transferred across languages? What kinds of fidelities are expected of women and
translators–in relation to the more powerful terms of their respective hierarchies? For
these fields of study, language intervenes actively in the creation of meaning. Like other
forms of representation, language does not simply “mirror” reality; it contributes to it.
Translation, we know, refers to a process of inter-linguistic transfer. Translators
communicate, re-write, manipulate a text in order to make it available to a second
language public. Thus they can use language as cultural intervention, as part of an effort
to alter expressions of domination, whether at the level of concepts, of syntax, or
terminology.
METHOD
Moreover, translation challenges arise in professional titles where traditional
gender expectations are embedded. For example, certain fields, such as engineering and
technology, are often associated with male-dominated terminology, while professions in
caregiving and education are frequently feminized [6]. The need to neutralize or gender-
balance these terms in translation is a subject of debate among linguists and translators
[7]. Cultural perceptions of gender roles influence how occupational terms are used and
understood [8]. In some societies, certain professions are traditionally associated with
one gender. Translators must navigate these cultural nuances carefully to ensure the
translated text is both accurate and culturally appropriate. For instance, in languages like
Turkish or Chinese, which do not assign gender to occupational terms, translating from a
gendered language may lead to ambiguity or the need for additional context [9].
Furthermore, certain languages have recently adopted gender-neutral occupational
terminology to promote inclusivity [10]. For example, in Swedish, the gender-neutral
pronoun "hen" has been introduced to avoid specifying gender. In contrast, German has
introduced the gender-star (e.g., "Lehrer*innen") to indicate inclusive language. These
adaptations pose new challenges and considerations for translators [11].
RESULT
To address gender-related challenges in translation, linguists employ several
strategies:
Gender-neutral language:
Some translators choose to use gender-neutral
terms where possible (e.g., "firefighter" instead of "fireman") [12].
Explicitation:
Providing additional context to clarify gender where necessary [13].
Adaptation to target language norms:
Ensuring that the translation aligns with
linguistic and cultural expectations without reinforcing stereotypes [14].
Use of inclusive language:
In cases where gender neutrality is not easily
achievable, inclusive phrasing can help maintain balance [15].
Historical and contextual adaptation:
Considering the historical and socio-
cultural context of professional terms to determine the most appropriate translation
approach.
Policy implementation in translation:
Governments and organizations
implementing gender-inclusive language policies influence how translators adapt
gendered occupational terminology. Some of the most exciting developments in
translation studies since the 1980s have been part of what has been called “the cultural
turn.” The turn to culture implies adding an important dimension to translation studies.
Instead of asking the traditional question which has preoccupied translation theorists –
“How should we translate, what is a correct translation?” – the emphasis is placed on a
descriptive approach: “What do translations do, how do they circulate in the world and
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 1 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
319
elicit a response?” This shift emphasizes the reality of translations as documents that
exist materially and move about, add to our store of knowledge, and contribute to
ongoing changes in esthetics. More importantly, it allows us to understand translations as
being related in organic ways to other modes of communication, and to see translations
as writing practices fully informed by the tensions that traverse all cultural
representation. That is, it defines translation as a process of mediation that does not
stand above ideology but works through it.
Analyze This
section analyzes real-world examples of how gender characteristics
in the occupational lexicon impact translation. Case studies from English, French,
Spanish, Russian, and Japanese highlight the differences in gender expression and the
techniques used by translators to navigate them. For instance:
French and Spanish:
The
transition from traditional gendered terms (e.g., "profesor/ profesora") to more gender-
inclusive alternatives (e.g., "profesorado").
German:
The introduction of gender-neutral
occupational titles using "gender gaps" and "gender stars" (e.g., "Student*innen").
Swedish:
The impact of gender-neutral pronouns such as "hen" in professional
communication.
Chinese and Turkish:
The implications of gender-neutral occupational
terminology in languages that traditionally do not distinguish between genders. These
case studies demonstrate how translators must carefully consider cultural and linguistic
variations while maintaining both accuracy and inclusivity.
DISCUSSION
Gendered occupational lexicon poses significant challenges in translation due to
linguistic and cultural differences. Translators must balance accuracy, cultural sensitivity,
and evolving norms in gender representation. The increasing awareness of gender-
inclusive language is influencing translation practices, prompting the adoption of more
neutral and inclusive terms. Future research may focus on the role of emerging
technologies, such as AI-driven translation tools, in handling gendered language and their
potential biases. Christine Brooke-Rose was much influenced by the New Novel in France
and by Robbe-Grillet in particular. She translated Robbe-Grillet's Le Labyrinthe (1957) as
In the Labyrinth (1968). It is interesting to note that her decision not to use the verb
"to be" – the kind of constraint favored by the experimental Oulippo writers in France –
pre-dates the famous novel by Georges Perec, La Disparition (in English A Void), which is
written without the most frequently used letter in the French alphabet, "e." Another
novel which should be considered here is Brigid Brophy’s In Transit (London, 1969)
which similarly invokes the in-between world of air travel, and a state of linguistic and
sexual confusion.
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Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 1 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
320
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