ABSTRACT
Until recently, research published on language in transgender communities has been done primarily by cisgender scholars. An “outsider” point of view can be a source of insight, but it can also create problems when researchers come from more normative social groups than their subjects. To maintain their own safety, trans people must learn to deduce people’s ideas about gender from subtle cues, which then influence decisions like whether to participate in a research study. Sociolinguists must therefore interrogate their unspoken assumptions and be prepared to discuss their reasons for studying trans people as well as the political implications of their work. Transphobia is so pervasive that escaping its influence requires sustained engagement with trans critiques of sex, gender, and sexuality. As transgender communities become increasingly visible, they will undoubtedly continue to grow in popularity as a population for sociolinguistic analysis.
