Vlinder en Hielke about feeling at home in language
They are surrounded by novels, scientific books and poetry bundles. This is no mere décor, but a decades-old bookstore in the heart of Utrecht that offers a safe space for the queer community. It is here, in a place many call home, that poet Vlinder Verouden and linguist at Utrecht University Hielke Vriesendorp meet for the fourth episode of Changemakers to talk about language, identity and belonging, and the many ways in which words can both define us and confine us.
In an ideal world, there would be no labels.
Vlinder Verouden
Vlinder Verouden is a (performance) poet and writer. She writes extensively about being trans and uses poetry to give language to experiences that are not always captured by the language of clinics or government institutions. In doing so, she contributes to a broader understanding of gender identity and self-expression.
Hielke Vriesendorp
Linguist Hielke Vriesendorp conducts research into language variation, including non-binary language use. Through his work, he aims to show a broader range of ways to look at language, gender and sexuality—beyond what you might encounter on Instagram or in polarising propaganda.
About Changemakers
Changemakers is a video series produced by Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht to celebrate their joint 390th anniversary. In each video, a researcher and a practitioner engage in a dialogue about a topic they are both working on from different perspectives. Throughout the conversation, they discover how their insights complement one another and how, together, they can make a real difference.
More on language and belonging
Engage with poetry throughout Utrecht
Join a street poetry walk or visit one of the exhibitions of the poetry competition 'Utrecht: Your place, your words', and experience poetry at its finest.
How inclusive is the Dutch language?
In this interview, linguist Hielke Vriesendorp talks about how language can shape our sense of belonging when it comes to gender.