‘Trans is an adjective’ – metalinguistic discourse on the use of <i>trans</i> on Twitter

This study analyses the metalinguistic discourse on trans and the utterance trans is an adjective on Twitter between 2009 and 2022. The aim is to find out which metalinguistic statements about trans and its usage appear in tweets linked to the trans is an adjective discourse and which assumptions about trans and its usage become evident in these statements, to then establish how these statements and assumptions are linked to trans-inclusive and transphobic (linguistic) practice. In the analysis, I observe metasemantic statements – most of which deal with the compound-phrase distinction and spelling – and metapragmatic statements – concerned with social positions and personae. As my analysis will show, both the semantic and the pragmatic aspects of meaning are inseparably linked and equally important when it comes to potentially transphobic language. Furthermore, the results of the study indicate that metasemantic arguments about what the forms refer to are primarily metapragmatic, namely they are about (appropriate) linguistic and social action.