퀴어 번역에 대한 언어학적 접근 ― 논바이너리 정체성을 중심으로

Abstract

This study explores how non-binary gender identity, particularly the use of the singular ‘ they/them’ pronouns in English, is translated into Korean. Through a comparative analysis of character descriptions from four online games (Rainbow Six, Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends), the study aims to demonstrate how translation strategies differ between non-binary and binary characters. The analysis reveals three dominant strategies: substitution, omission, and acceptance . While omission rates were similar between binary and non-binary characters (approximately 58%), reflecting Korean’s tendency to omit personal pronouns, non-binary characters experienced significantly higher substitution rates (39.5% vs 15.5%) and dramatically lower acceptance rates (2.5% vs 24.5%) compared to binary characters. These differences were statistically significant across all grammatical positions. Additionally, while binary character translations varied according to anaphoric position, non-binary character translations maintained consistent strategies regardless of context, suggesting translators face stronger constraints when representing non-binary identity than when managing general linguistic considerations . The findings indicate that non-binary identity translation into Korean faces significant linguistic and cultural challenges, reflecting both the absence of established gender-neutral pronouns in Korean and possible resistance to or unfamiliarity with non-binary concepts . This research contributes to our understanding of how gender identity is linguistically negotiated across languages and cultures, while highlighting the need for more inclusive translation practices in response to the evolving global landscape of gender representation.