We have all learned various types of languages: verbal (words, grammar, etc.), non-verbal (gestures, attitudes, etc.), visual (images, etc.) and so on. These are all equally important. However, verbal language is often considered of greater value because it gives meaning to the world we live in (including to people) through naming (the act of giving a name). Naming is not only useful, but also necessary to orient ourselves by creating "labels" and "categories", especially when we encounter something different or new. The most interesting aspect of all languages is that we can modify and adapt them to our experiences. Having so many words, images, gestures, attitudes, etc. available and being able to modify and re-create them, also means to be more capable of orienting ourselves in the world with less distrust and fear of the differences and novelties we may encounter. In this way, we will also be able to resort less often to discriminatory words and behaviors, caused by the fear of what is new, unknown or "never seen and heard of". 

This counts also for issues regarding:

• sex, defined as the set of biological characteristics that a person is born with, for example sex chromosomes (XY for males and XX for females), gonads (testes for males and ovaries for females), genitals and sex hormones. A person can be born with male sexual features, female ones or more rarely in between (differences of sex development).
• gender, i.e. socially defined characteristics that distinguish masculine from feminine (e.g., norms, roles and relationships between individuals defined according to the man/ woman dualism).
• sexual orientation, defined as the physical, emotional, romantic and/or sexual attraction towards a person.

Also regarding these issues, many more words, images, gestures, etc. are needed. In fact, in the real wordl not only males or females are born, but also other bodies; these bodies become not only men or women, but also other genders; furthermore, there is not only attraction for the opposite sex or for the same sex, but also other types of attraction besides the heterosexual and homosexual ones. Here we are dealing with the expression transgender, which includes those persons whose gender identity does not match the sex assigned at birth and that not necessarly wish to modify their body.

The most common problem that transgender people may encounter regards the proper use of name and pronouns. How to use a correct language? The best way is to ask which name and pronouns each person identifies with and use those.

More generally, in fact, languages are used to exchange information and the success of communication depends first of all on understanding and accepting (without necessarily agreeing) the way in which both or all interlocutors present themselves with words, gestures, attitudes, etc.

Bibliography

Linee guida per un’informazione rispettosa delle persone LGBT. Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri-Dipartimento per le Pari Opportunità e UNAR-Ufficio Nazionale Antidiscriminazioni Razziali a difesa delle differenze. 2013.

Monceri F. Oltre l’identità sessuale. Teorie queer e corpi transgender. Edizioni ETS, Pisa, 2010.

Paoli B, Ghisoni A, Cikada M. Guida Arcobaleno. Tutto ciò che devi sapere sul mondo LGBT+. Golem Edizioni, Torino, 2018.

Valerio P, Amodio AL, Scandurra C. Lesbiche Gay Bisessuali Transgender. Una guida dei termini politicamente corretti. 2016.