Introduction [to Gender issues: Translating and mediating languages, cultures and societies]

In recent years, the intersection between gender and translation has been intensely explored, with research in areas such as sexual identity in translation, the writing and translating of the female body, the effects of grammatical gender travelling from one language to another, the translation of misogynist texts, the theory and practice of feminist translation, the teaching of feminist issues and activism. It is also undoubtable that recently the interest in translation, gender and feminist issues has become increasingly visible. However, there is still work to be done in the field if we think about specialized language. The study of gender issues in specialized languages and LSP translation is still a research area to be explored, and even more so if we want to analyse the intersections among different languages, cultures and societies. The starting point of this publication is that in LSP domains many studies have been devoted to the languages of law, medicine, media, tourism, advertising, arts and business but they have not fully exploited the gender perspective which can disclose new insights into the use of specialized lexicon, the role of translation, the influence of cultural aspects and social habits and values in the transmission of equality or in-equality notions. If in the realm of feminist translation studies very few studies have been devoted to LSP and interpreting studies, similarly in the area of specialized translation almost nothing has been said about gender issues. This research aims at bridging the gap existing between LSP translation and gender issues, offering a broad view of research on translation and gender/sexuality, LSP and the professional world. The purpose is to broaden the discussion on gender awareness in specialized language and translation, and to pinpoint gender issues in audiovisual translation, to analyse gendered language in the media and advertising, and last but not least, to consider gender differences reiterated through language in specific domains.