As pride month comes to a close (and pride celebrations and marches continue around the country over summer) we — Sophie, Tarun and Hope, have taken the opportunity to reflect on what it means to be both queer and to be a linguist. Having graduated last summer from having studied German together, we’ve gone on to either complete further higher education qualifications or work abroad in Germany.
Being multilingual allows individuals to exchange not just communication, but also culture. As queer individuals living in an increasingly polarised world, it is paramount that we use the tools available to connect to queer culture and form our communities. It goes without saying that having access to these tools in other cultures is an immense gift.
Tarun (she/her)
To study a language is not just to simply study a linguistic system, one must take on a whole new perspective, culture, and history in order to even begin to really understand the language you are studying.
My time at Liverpool allowed me to fully immerse myself in the cultures I studied and in turn learn more about myself; whether it was discussing the demonisation of queer identity and sex work in ancient china as black magic, or analysing German folk tales in which men are turned into women and bisexuality is heavily implied, I felt like my queer identity provided me with a unique viewpoint that was celebrated and allowed me to contribute effectively in seminars.
Liverpool as a city has always felt incredibly open minded and welcoming to people from all walks of life and is a city where as a trans woman I feel completely comfortable walking around no matter the time of day. Even if people may not understand you they are always willing to try, which is a reason why Liverpool is a city I have continued to regularly spend time in even after graduation.
Studying German specifically has directly impacted my journey with my identity, the gendered nature of the language forced me to think inwards about which pronouns felt more comfortable for me, and having the option to spend time in Berlin, a very progressive city which historically hosted the first transsexualism operations, gave me the confidence to get “dolled up” for the first time in a place where I felt comfortable and celebrated.
Without my time in Liverpool, and the degree I chose, I’m unsure if I would have had the confidence or the skill set to be the unapologetic queer person I am today and for that I will always be grateful :)
Hope (she/her)
Having always lived in big cities, being a part of a visible queer community was not new to me, however my time studying in Liverpool gave me a chance to experience life in a tight-knit, supportive environment. From after lecture- and work drinks in the Postie in Gaytown, to seeing the bright collective spirit of the city Pride Parade, I felt as though I could find my people and properly feel a part of something. The University’s LGBTQ society gave me the space to meet new people; and the diverse courses and approaches offered by the university LCF faculty meant I could learn more about Queer culture from an academic lens, whether that be in translating gender neutral pronouns into a language with rigid grammatical gender (for me, German) or the analysing of queer subtext in 1920s German silent films.
Furthermore, thanks to my degree in German, I spent my year abroad in Potsdam, Germany, a city on Berlin’s southwestern border and am now currently living in central Berlin, still teaching English at the primary school where I did my year abroad placement. Of course, Berlin is famously a hub of queerness and individuality and I have found that during my time here, I have been able to discover who I am in a non judgemental and thriving community. I have made lasting friendships through my year abroad British Council placement, and have been made the unofficial Berlin tour guide within my university friend group, who have been able to visit me here and experience all the fun the city has to offer.
I think a lot about how different my life would’ve been if I hadn’t taken beginner’s level German in the first year of my degree, and despite all the stress that final year exams brought- I wouldn’t change a thing, and I’ll always be thankful to my time in Liverpool for that.
Sophie (she/her)
Although tying modern languages and queerness together may not be the most obvious connection to make, my linguistic capabilities have enriched and deepened my understanding of, and participation in queer culture.
During my time at Liverpool, the curriculum on offer at the Faculty of Languages and Cultures gave me the tools necessary to take a closer look at a culture which is primarily passed on through the study of LGBT literature and art, and of course, kinship. My studies gave me access to a diverse range of queer culture: from the cinema of Weimar Germany which depicted transgender and gay individuals, to sapphic readings of fairy tales published as far back as the 1800s.
Of course, culture is only worth so much without having a physical, tangible connection to it, and the beauty of being a linguist is the ability to connect with individuals across language barriers. My time studying abroad, and my working in Germany following the completion of my degree has given me the ability to connect with queer culture. I’ve created lasting friendships and formed my own identity in a way that being monolingual would never have allowed me.
To be a language learner, is to be someone who not only desires to grasp grammatical intricacies and achieve a level of spoken fluency, but to have a cultural fluency that allows them to move beyond what they know to be the norm, and to enrich and diversify their worldview.
Final thoughts
Studying languages has given us so much more than just grammar and vocab; it’s opened up our understanding of the world and, more importantly, of ourselves. We've learned to think critically, ask big questions, and reflect deeply, which has helped us understand our identities in a much more meaningful way and has also made us more confident, especially in embracing our queerness. Liverpool gave us the space to grow—not just academically, but personally too. It’s where we found our voices, our people, and ourselves. And now, whether we’re heading into further study, moving abroad, or jumping into the working world, we feel prepared. We know who we are, and we know what we’re capable of. Happy Pride!