Narrating Transgender Identities: A Linguistic Perspective

Abstract

This article aims at discussing the relevance of linguistic research with regards to transgender identities representation and self-narration. In fact, this issue of puntOorg International Journal (PIJ) tackles three different perspectives – economic, psychological and linguistic – from which the representation and self-narration of transgender and gender non-conforming people working in organizations and business can be analyzed. From the linguistic perspective, interest towards the topic of transgender and gender non-conforming identities has been drawn only recently, despite the relevance language use has on the general understanding of these identity expressions. The discussion will include a qualitative Critical Discourse Analysis of a collection of eight narration and testimonies of transgender individuals from Italy in relation to their workplace experience and their coming out stories.