Work

Deadnaming, Taboo, and Linguistic Authority

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: To deadname is to call a trans person by a name they have rejected due to their gender transition. Deadnaming has a visceral impact, and is presumptively blameworthy. I offer an account of these properties in terms of taboo violations and acts of linguistic authority. Linguistic authority is posited to derive from a fundamental interest in being the author of one’s own social persona(e). I also consider, and reject, a semantic account of the behaviour of deadnames.

Source: Mind

DOI: 10.1093/mind/fzaf045

Author: Elek Lane

Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Swearing, Euphemism, Multilingualism

Subfield: Communication

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,002