Building a Translengua in Latina Lesbian Organizing |
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Authors: | Lourdes Torres |
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Institution: | 1. DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USAltorres@depaul.edu |
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Abstract: | ABSTRACTThis article discusses the challenges and rewards, as well as the affective labor, involved in forging a Latina lesbian “translengua,” in other words a common language in the context of Latina lesbian organizing. I explore how members of Latina Lesbians en Nuestro Ambiente (LLENA) and Amigas Latinas, Chicago-based Latina lesbian organizations, attempted to foster consensus for collective action in the face of language differences and preferences. Through analysis of archives and interviews with activists, I untangle how LLENA and Amigas Latinas negotiated deeply personal and sensitive issues around language use as they worked to build an inclusive movement. I also identify strategies used to enact a translengua that could bridge linguistic differences within the Latina lesbian community. |
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Keywords: | Latina lesbian translengua Latina lesbian organizing language Spanish bilingual |
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