Search Results (16)

This study examines the transformation of literary translation practices in Georgia from the Soviet era to the post-Soviet and neoliberal periods, using postcolonial translation theory as the main analytical lens. Translation is treated not merely as a linguistic transfer but as a process shaped by ideological control, cultural representation, and global power hierarchies. In the Soviet era, censorship policies rooted in socialist realism imposed direct ideological interventions; children’s literature such as Maya the Bee and Bambi exemplified how religious or individualist themes were replaced with collectivist narratives. In the post-Soviet period, overt censorship has largely disappeared; however, structural factors—including the absence of a coherent national translation policy, economic precarity, and dependence on Western funding—have become decisive in shaping translation choices. The shift from Russian to English as the dominant source language has introduced new symbolic hierarchies, privileging Anglophone literature while marginalizing regional and non-Western voices. Drawing on the Georgian Book Market Research 2013–2015 alongside archival materials, paratextual analysis, and contemporary case studies, including the Georgian translation of André Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name, the study shows how translators negotiate between market expectations, cultural taboos, and ethical responsibility. It argues that translation in Georgia remains a contested site of cultural negotiation and epistemic justice. Full article

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.) and a major contributor to several cancers, including cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Although a safe and effective vaccine is available, HPV vaccination rates remain suboptimal, particularly among racial, ethnic, and immigrant minority groups. This study explored multiple factors, such as cultural, social, and structural influences, influencing HPV vaccine decision-making among Cape Verdean immigrant parents in the U.S., a population currently underrepresented in HPV research. Methods: Qualitative study using individual, in-depth interviews with Cape Verdean immigrant parents of children aged 11 to 17 years living in the U.S. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using the social ecological model (SEM) to identify barriers and facilitators at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels. Results: Forty-five Cape Verdean parents (27 mothers, 18 fathers) participated. Fathers were significantly older than mothers (50.0 vs. 41.1 years, p = 0.05). Most were married or partnered (60%), had at least a high school education (84.4%), and reported annual household incomes of US$50,000 or more (66.7%), with no significant gender differences. Nearly all spoke Creole at home (95.6%). Fathers had lower acculturation than mothers (p = 0.05), reflecting less adaptation to U.S. norms and language use. Most parents had limited knowledge of HPV and the vaccine, with gendered beliefs and misconceptions about risk. Only seven mothers (25.9%) reported receiving a provider recommendation; all indicated that their children had initiated vaccination (1 dose or more). Mothers were the primary decision-makers, though joint decision-making was common. Trust in providers was high, but poor communication and the lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate materials limited informed decision-making. Stigma, misinformation, and cultural taboos restricted open dialogue. Trusted sources of information included schools, churches, and Cape Verdean organizations. While parents valued the U.S. healthcare system, they noted gaps in public health messaging and provider engagement. Conclusions: Findings revealed that HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy among Cape Verdean immigrant parents in the U.S. were influenced by individual beliefs, family dynamics, healthcare provider interactions, cultural norms, and structural barriers. These findings highlight the need for multilevel strategies such as culturally tailored education, community engagement, and improved provider communication to support informed vaccination decisions in this population. Full article

This study explores the effects of interacting with AI vs. human interlocutors on English language learners’ speaking performance in a game-based learning context. We developed Taboo Talks, a word-guessing game in which learners alternated between giving and guessing clues with either an AI or a human partner. To evaluate the impact of interaction mode on oral proficiency, participants completed a story retelling task, assessed using complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) metrics. Each participant engaged in both partner conditions, with group order counterbalanced. The results from the retelling task indicated modest improvements in fluency and complexity, particularly following interaction with the AI partner. Accuracy scores remained largely stable across conditions. Post-task reflections revealed that learners perceived AI partners as less intimidating, facilitating more relaxed language production, though concerns were noted regarding limited responsiveness. Qualitative analysis of the gameplay transcripts further revealed contrasting interactional patterns: AI partners elicited more structured interactions whereas human partners prompted more spontaneous and variable interactions. These findings suggest that AI-mediated gameplay can enhance specific dimensions of spoken language development and may serve as a complementary resource alongside human interaction. Full article

This study examined different degrees of awareness regarding the stigmatization of Southern California (SoCal) Spanish across four groups of Spanish–English bilinguals from Southern California (n = 87). The participants were presented with Spanish sentences and asked to decide which profile of speaker would likely express that sentence, given six options, such as: “someone living in Los Angeles/SoCal who grew up in Mexico” or “a Spanish-English bilingual who grew up in Los Angeles/SoCal”. Experimental stimuli included seven different linguistic categories of stigmatization, including English contact forms. The participants tended to attribute the stigmatized forms to bilinguals who grew up in Southern California. Central Colloquial and Taboo categories were more salient and perceived as forms used by people in Mexico. In contrast, English borrowings and redundancies seemed to be recognized by the participants, particularly for simultaneous bilinguals who grew up in Southern California, as salient forms of an identified Southern California Spanish variety. The results are interpreted within Exemplar Theory, with certain stigmatized forms indexing “Mexican Spanish” exemplars, and English borrowings identified as exemplars of SoCal Spanish. We advocate for usage-based approaches to understanding language perceptions and critical approaches to interrogating academic discourses. Full article

Menstruation remains surrounded by taboo and symbolic violence for many adolescents and young women today, and it is urgent to identify existing stereotypes. The objective was to validate a Spanish-language instrument to assess perceptions, false beliefs, gender stereotypes, fears, and taboos surrounding menstruation in nursing women’s studies. A cross-sectional study for psychometric validation of the METCON© scale (22 item version) was assessed in a cohort of 401 female nursing university students (2016–2019), assessing the psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and structural validity. Furthermore, an invariance analysis was conducted to discern structural disparities before and after studying the subject of gender and health. The METCON© scale showed acceptable internal consistency scores measured by Cronbach’s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a structure of six factors which explained 60.50% of the total variance with a total of 19 items. Reliability analysis indicated adequate internal consistency (α = 0.613). Confirmatory factor analysis showed adequate values, confirming this structure. The invariance analyses identified that the structure remained adequate when evaluated before and after studying the subject of gender and health. Once validated, this instrument could serve as a valid and reliable tool for comprehensively examining perceptions, beliefs, and myths surrounding menstruation, addressing not only biological but also social and cultural aspects. Full article

Formal language: This paper discusses inclusive research and epistemic justice by using an example of a published study the authors conducted on intellectual disability and sexuality in supported living environments. Our study addressed taboos and pushed boundaries in content and methodology through two ways of inclusive research: (1) the second author of this paper who has an intellectual disability was a main researcher in the study; and (2) we interviewed people with intellectual disabilities about their own experiences as well as their desired solutions to obstacles they face in their supported living environments. Their input was centralized in the final research report. This method challenged the epistemic injustice of who have historically not been ‘allowed’ to produce knowledge in research. This paper offers historical insight into epistemic injustice as well as relational approaches from critical disability studies and non-Western understandings of disability that ‘rethink’ disability and that can thus promote epistemic justice in academic theory. By addressing both practice and theory in this paper, we aim to contribute to the growing body of inclusive research and to the epistemic justice of people with intellectual disabilities. Plain language: (1) Epistemology = thinking about knowledge, producing knowledge, sharing knowledge. (2) In history, people with intellectual disabilities have often been excluded from participating in this. This is called epistemic injustice. It is caused by the discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities (ableism). (3) Performing inclusive research with people with intellectual disabilities challenges this. It contributes to epistemic justice. Researchers and interviewees with intellectual disabilities can bring knowledge from lived experience into research. (4) Knowledge from lived experience has not always been valued in traditional research. That means we also need to think differently about ‘knowledge’, and about ‘disability’ and its ‘value’. (5) Discrimination based on disability has a long history. For instance: during colonialism by European countries (starting in the 15th century), false ideas about ‘poor health’ and ‘low intelligence’ were already used to justify slavery. People with disabilities have often been locked away or even killed because they have been seen as ‘less valuable’. These ways of thinking still exist. They influence our understanding of ‘epistemology’ because they decide whose way of thinking and way of life is valuable or not valuable. We need to change this way of thinking. (6) Some academic fields that help are critical disability studies, indigenous studies, and feminist posthumanism. These fields challenge ableist ways of thinking. They can help us understand disability as something that is not negative or less valuable, but simply part of what makes us human. Full article

Currently, there are no resources to support culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women with breast cancer to make decisions about undergoing breast reconstruction (BR). This study evaluated the usability and acceptability of decision aids (DAs) for Vietnamese- and Arabic-speaking women. This two-phase qualitative recruited Vietnamese- (Phase 1) and Arabic-speaking (Phase 2) adult (age ≥ 18 years) women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and could read Vietnamese/Arabic. Women participated in either think-aloud telephone interviews (Phase 1) or semi-structured telephone interviews (Phase 2) and provided feedback on the DA. Interviews were audio-recorded, translated, and transcribed from Vietnamese/Arabic to English, and inductive thematic analysis was undertaken. Additionally, Arabic-speaking women completed the Preparation for Decision Making (PrepDM) scale in Round 2. Twenty-five women were recruited in two phases (Phase 1: Vietnamese-speaking women, n = 14; Phase 2: Arabic-speaking, n = 11). Three themes were developed in Phase 1: (1) DA content and reception; (2) linguistic attributes and cultural appropriateness; and (3) factors that improve the DAs’ impact. Three themes were developed in Phase 2: (1) varying perceptions of DA content; (2) linguistic and cultural suitability of information; and (3) impact of DA on decision making. Women from both phases identified areas for improvement: minimising the use of medical terminology, considering the cultural taboos associated with the word ‘breast’, and addressing remaining information gaps. Both language DAs were generally perceived as acceptable and useful in providing information about BR options and prompting women’s reflections about the suitability of BR as part of their treatment. The mean PrepDM score for Arabic-speaking women in Round 2 was 4.8/5 (SD = 0.3). Further work is needed to ensure that culturally adapted DAs take into account the myriad of information needs and health literacy levels. The key role of healthcare professionals in shared decision making among CALD populations should also be considered. Full article

Reception studies in audiovisual translation seek to explore how translation choices affect the audience’s comprehension, emotional engagement, enjoyment, and overall viewing experience of audiovisual materials. This study focuses on the subtitling product and analyzes the acceptability of swear words translated through different stimuli: subtitles with softened, maintained, and intensified swearing, along with standard Netflix subtitles (control). Employing a multi-method approach, the study collected data through a survey, using questionnaires with a Likert scale and interviews, following the user-centered translation model to understand how participants receive and perceive swear words in subtitling. The results indicate that the control group had the highest acceptability of the participants, while the group with softened swear words presented the lowest acceptability rate. The analysis shows that participants across all groups reported that discomfort does not arise from reading the swear word in the subtitle but from perceiving a deliberate change in its offensive load—usually softened. The findings demonstrate that this change can lead to a breach of the contract of illusion in subtitling, as participants are exposed to the original dialogue and the translated subtitle simultaneously. In conclusion, when perceived, the change in the offensive load can redirect the viewer’s focus from the video to the subtitles, negatively affecting the enjoyment of the audiovisual experience. Full article

In this paper, we consider the censorship of public swear word usage as a function of, and continued maintenance of, taboo with a focus on L1 and LX swearing and its management. In research with multilingual speakers, first-language swear words are consistently perceived as more taboo, and thus more emotional/powerful than equivalent words from a second or third language. While the public use of English-language swear words may be subject to censorship in Anglophone contexts, it is not censored to the same extent in LX contexts. On the other hand, L1 swear words are censored. Such perceptions of differences in strength between one’s L1 and LX languages also seem to affect the work of language professionals: translators’ tendency to self-censor may at least in part be explained by this bias. The existence of a two-tier system of swearing and censorship serves to reinvigorate L1 swear words, while diminishing the power of English swear words. We thus examine how censorship works as a means of maintaining and/or attenuating taboo, potentially moderating the power of swearing itself in cross-linguistic and multilingual contexts. Full article

Streaming platforms have transformed series distribution and accessibility, with Spanish-language shows gaining immense popularity, notably “La casa de papel” (Money Heist). This series features a diverse cast of characters whose linguistic diversity extends to the use of taboo language. Previous studies have shown that linguistic immersion, such as staying abroad, significantly impacts knowledge of this kind of language. This paper aims to explore to what extent these and other individual differences affect the comprehension of swear words in TV series. To this end, 33 learners of Spanish at B2 level were asked to translate 14 taboo expressions from the series. They also completed a questionnaire on the exposure to authentic language use through extended stays abroad and TV series as well as their attitudes towards the use of taboo words. The results show that students’ positive attitudes towards taboo expressions and their multilingual status were associated with significantly better comprehension of taboo expressions. Furthermore, students with stay-abroad experience, watching the series in Spanish (with or without captions) and with higher proficiency levels in Spanish were found to perform better on the comprehension test, although no significant effects were found. Pedagogical implications and further directions for research are discussed in light of these findings. Full article

Sexual dysfunctions are common among females with common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. However, discussion on this topic remains taboo in many cultures, including India. Worldwide, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is the most used tool to evaluate sexual functioning in females. Researchers across the globe attempted to translate and validate this scale in native languages (e.g., Japanese and Spanish); however, such translations are not available in Hindi. Strikingly, although there is literature informing us about the regional validation process of this scale, little has been discussed about qualitative nuances of the process of translation, the expert panel discussion, and cognitive interviewing during pilot testing. The lack of such procedural qualitative data limits the replicability of such translations in different cultures; furthermore, it can adversely influence the parameters of the validation study. Hence, the current study was conducted to highlight the process of Hindi translation of the FSFI and illustrate the challenges faced at various stages of translation and testing. The study was conducted in the multidisciplinary hospital of Central India by involving five translators, five expert panel discussants, and 15 patients with common mental health conditions or their caregivers. The significant findings of the current work include the requirement of semantic and grammatical changes and rephrasing of the sentences for improving comprehensibility and applicability in the Indian population (during the panel discussion). Additionally, it informed us to use alternate or more than one word to capture a concept, including English words written in Hindi (during preliminary pilot testing). Critical roadblocks were inadequate awareness of the issues, lack of typical/comprehensive terminologies to capture the ideas, and significant stigma attached to the subject. Full article

Variation in the language experience of bilinguals has consequences for cognitive and affective processes. In the current study, we examined how bilingual experience influences the relationship between language and emotion in English among a group of Spanish–English heritage bilinguals on an emotion–memory task. Participants rated the emotionality of English taboo, negative and neutral words and then completed an unexpected recognition test. To account for language experience, data were gathered on the participants’ language dominance and proficiency. Results showed emotion–memory effects in the Spanish–English heritage bilinguals’ English (the societal language): taboo words were recognized significantly better than neutral words, while the emotionality of negative words carried over and significantly affected the recognition of preceding neutral words. Furthermore, such effects were modulated by language dominance scores with more pronounced emotion–memory effects in more English-dominant bilinguals. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence showing that emotions are not necessarily restricted to the first acquired home language. Critically, for heritage speakers, there is often a shift in language dominance from the home language to the societal language. The present study demonstrates that the effects of emotion on memory are seen in the acquired societal language. Full article

This qualitative and quantitative study examines how taboo language is rendered in non-professional subtitling (NPS), how viewers react to the renderings, and how the interactions between danmu and general comments’ contributors affect the translation activities and language changes. The study draws on a parallel corpus consisting of taboo language and its translations from 18 of the most-viewed and commented upon subtitled videos on the popular video-sharing platform, Bilibili.com. Danmu comments and general comments related to the renderings of taboo language are also collected and studied. When analyzing translation activities in an NPS setting, the study adopts and modifies some mainstream subtitling strategies and techniques proposed by. The study finds that various creative approaches are adopted, such as lexical recreation and substitution by euphemism. While the strength of the taboo language is reduced in more than half of the instances, in an unexpected 17.2% of cases the effects are enlarged. The study concludes that a virtuous, collaborative mechanism for potential translation problems and language learning is formed by providing positive, neutral, and critical feedback in the comments. In addition to linguistic knowledge and cultural background, viewers also share knowledge beyond the scope of translation. Full article

This article investigates the ethical implications of the notion of an Atomic Priesthood, an artificially constructed religion built around the preservation of knowledge related to nuclear-waste storage by using the work of Hans Jonas (1903–1993) and Günther Anders (1902–1992). Building on Jonas’ The Imperative of Responsibility from 1979 and Anders’ The Outdatedness of Human Beings from 1956, this article participates in the debate regarding the ethics of the post-closure marking of nuclear-waste storage sites. Assuming that we have a moral obligation toward future generations, as Jonas argued, even after the nuclear-waste storages have been filled and closed, there remains a need to communicate the danger of these sites to future civilizations to whom our languages and other semiotic systems are incomprehensible. Discussing the hypothetical concept of the Atomic Priesthood, an artificial religion whose central purpose would be to make it taboo to approach certain “impure” sites where our civilization had buried nuclear waste, this article argues that due to the unsolved ethical stakes, technological solutions are unequipped to deal with the long-term ramifications of nuclear power. Full article

This article interprets the narratives of sex manuals produced within the Malay-Indonesian archipelago before the coming of Western colonialism and the dawn of postcolonial Islamic resurgence. In the collection of Malaysian libraries and museums, these manuscripts are largely classified as Kitab Jimak and Kitab Tib. They are all written in the Malay language with indigenous references, though the contents are likely derived from a common genre of texts transmitted from an early Arab-Islamic world and circulated within the region before the coming of European colonialism. The corpora of sexual knowledge in these texts emphasises the valorisation of sexual pleasure in conjugal relationships. Through an extensive list of prescriptions—from sexual techniques to diet, food taboos, medicine, pharmacopoeia, mantras, charms, and astrological knowledge—a near-sacral sexual experience is aspired. Couples are guided in their attainment of pleasure (nikmat) through the adherence of Islamic ethics (akhlak), rules (hukum), and etiquette (tertib). The fulfilment of women’s desire in the process is central in these observances. Nevertheless, despite placing much emphasis on mutual pleasure, these texts also contain ambiguous and paradoxical pronouncements on the position of women, wavering from veneration to misogyny. The article also highlights how intertextual studies of similar texts throughout the Islamic world can be a new focus of studies on the early history of gender and sexuality in Islam. Full article