In place of the Western conceptualisation of gender and sexuality, Kristang has the creole/Indigenous Kuartukarni Igleza (‘four fleshes of identity’ or ‘four bodies of identity’) consisting of jenis (biological sex), wenza (sexuality or sexual desire), jenta (gender) and afisi (affinity or romantic orientation). Jenis and jenta are generally attributive, meaning that terms for biological sex and gender are generally adjectival, while wenza and afisi are generally indicative, meaning that terms for sexuality or sexual desire and affinity or romantic orientation are generally nominal. Kristang is the only known language in the world with such a system.
Jenis
Jenis can best be translated as one’s biological sex. Five basic jenis terms are currently extant in Kristang:
- jenis terestra: intersex
- jenis femi: assigned female at birth
- jenis machu: assigned male at birth
- jenis aurora: male-to-female
- jenis elios: female-to-male
Wenza
Wenza can best be translated as sexual desire or sexuality. One specifies the jenis and/or jenta of who one is sexually attracted to e.g.
Yo teng wenza pra jenti teng jenis machu.
“I am sexually attracted to people who are born biologically male (jenta or the gender is not specified so it doesn’t matter if they are masculine-presenting, feminine-presenting, transgender masculine-presenting, non-binary, etc.).”
Asexuality (nggwenza or ngguenza) and other directions of sexual interest are also specified in this fashion.
Jenta
Jenta can best be translated as one’s gender. Five basic jenta terms are currently extant in Kristang:
- jenta kadmang: non-binary
- jenta femi: feminine
- jenta machu: masculine
- jenta akili: transgender male
- jenta atena: transgender female
Afisi
Afisi can best be translated as romantic orientation or affinity. One specifies the jenis and/or jenta of who one is romantically attracted to e.g.
Yo teng afisi pra jenti teng jenta femi.
“I am romantically attracted to feminine people (jenis or the biological sex is not specified so it doesn’t matter if they are biologically female, male, female-to-male, intersex etc.).”
Aromanticism (ngfisi) and other directions of romantic orientation or pursuit are also specified in this fashion.
Hierosa, Iridesu, Ultramar kung Arepu
Kristang also recognises the unique, essential and useful contributions of queer people to society with four additional terms for gay that can be used to highlight different facets of queer identity:
- hierosa: emphasising the sacred, heroic and luminous elements of homosexuality in Kristang culture and ways of being
- iridesu: emphasising the colour, vivaciousness and beauty in queer Kristang approaches to life and ways of being
- ultramar: emphasising the courage, ferocity and dauntlessness of openly queer Kristang people that necessarily has incorporated the overcoming of intense trauma
- arepu: emphasising the wisdom, insight and knowledge of the arcane and occluded that queer Kristang people are drawn to and often wield and refine