Translation

Notes for translating sexual terms and emotional nuance between languages and how to preserve consent and tone.

Practical tips

• Preserve consent markers and safewords verbatim where possible.
• Use glosses for culturally specific terms rather than literal translations.

Transformation & Garments

• When translating scenes that use clothing as symbolic shorthand (e.g., a sarong, kimono, wrap skirt) preserve the original garment name where possible and add a concise gloss. Many garments (wraps, sarongs, pareos) have cultural meanings that do not map cleanly across languages; a brief parenthetical note helps readers retain context without over-explaining.
• Preserve the mechanics: if a scene hinges on how a garment is tied or untied, retain verbs that describe the action precisely (e.g., "tuck", "knot", "unloop", "pin"). These verbs carry symbolic weight and are often essential to the scene’s rhythm and consent cues.

Quick checklist for translators

• Keep the garment name in the source language and add a gloss if unfamiliar to the target audience.
• Retain verbs for fastening/unfastening and note whether a garment is sewn or unstitched — this affects plausibility of accidental exposure in narrative.
• Avoid genericising cultural garments as "costume" or "wrap"; specificity supports respect and accuracy.