Skundas

Prieš keletą savaičių pas mane svečiavosi draugai iš Londono. Viena jų - kalbininkė, poliglotė ir lygių teisių politikoje aktyvi Marta. Ji jau buvo pramokusi keletą žodžių ir frazių lietuviškai, bet kurį vakarą vietoj vyno taurės į rankas Marta paėmė mano aglų-lietuvių žodyną. Ten tarp daugelio kitų žodžių ji patikrino ir gay, kuris žodyne isverstas kaip amoralus. Marta, girdėjusi apie Lietuvos problemas šia tema, puolė rašyti laišką į leidyklą, ir, kas smagiausia, iškart gavo atsakymą. Ji manęs paprašė jos susirašinėjimą papublikuoti, ir sulaukus kito žodyno leidimo patikrinti, ar vertimas papildytas kitomis, modernesnėmis reikšmėmis.

From: Marta

To: Vaiga

Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 11:13 PM

Subject: Feedback on Dictionary from Vaiga/Ausra Publishing House

Dear Sir/Madam,

As a linguist, I take great interest in the two-way relationship between language and social norms, and believe that the two have an undeniable impact on one another. I was therefore alarmed to find that a dictionary published by your publishing house gives a very backward and discriminatory definition of the word 'gay'. Indeed, when one looks up the word 'gay', one finds the following definitions: linksmas, nedoras, iştvirkȩs. According to the same dictionary, 'nedoras' means: 'immoral, wicked, dishonest'. By the same token, as far as I understand, iştvirkȩs is derived from 'ištvirkti' meaning 'corrupt'.

I urge you to revise this definition, as its current format refelects an old fashioned and clearly negative attitude to homosexuality; a definition which may encourage and contribute towards homophobic trends in Lithuanian society. I would like to remind you that the European Union strongly condemns homophobia, with its Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation (Article 21, clause 1. Full text available here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf).

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you regarding this issue.

Kind regards,

Marta __________

From: Vaiga
To: Marta
Subject: Re: Feedback on Dictionary from Vaiga/Ausra Publishing House
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 16:24:41 +0300

Dear Ms _________,

Thank you for your attention to our edition "Trumpas anglų-lietuvių ir lietuvių-anglų kalbų žodynas" and comments regarding the incorrect definition in our dictionary. We have forwarded these comments to Ms. Laimute Zabuliene - the author of our dictionary.

We guaranty you, that it will be paid attention to your comments and revised in your letter mentioned definition in 2012 year’s edition of dictionary.

Once more thanks for Your attention to our dictionary and its assessment.

Sincerely,

Vaidotas Gadliauskas,

Director,

UAB “VAIGA”