Translating genderless characters in the confinements of grammatical gender in children’s literature

Abstract

This paper aims to examine methods used to translate genderless characters from languages with natural gender into languages with grammatical gender, specifically from English to Slovak. The context of children’s literature is used. First, the difference between natural and grammatical gender is examined (Ibrahim 1973). Consequently, the importance of gender-inclusive language is stressed (Di Sabato and Perri 2020). The possibilities for gender-inclusive expressions offered by a language using grammatical gender are highlighted, considered, and applied into practice (Cviková et al. 2014; Urbancová 2022). Two research questions are answered: 1. How can a language using grammatical gender be gender inclusive? 2. Should specific translation strategies be used when translating gender in children’s literature? The author of this paper aims to answer these questions from the position as a researcher and a translator.