#ai glossary

[xaltius]

The Ultimate AI Glossary: Artificial Intelligence Definitions to Know

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming every industry, revolutionizing how we work, live, and interact with the world. But with its rapid evolution comes a flurry of specialized terms and concepts that can feel like learning a new language. Whether you're a budding data scientist, a business leader, or simply curious about the future, understanding the core vocabulary of AI is essential.

Consider this your ultimate guide to the most important AI definitions you need to know.

Core Concepts & Foundational Terms

Artificial Intelligence (AI): The overarching field dedicated to creating machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, decision-making, perception, and understanding language.

Machine Learning (ML): A subset of AI that enables systems to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. Instead of following static instructions, ML algorithms build models based on sample data, called "training data," to make predictions or decisions.

Deep Learning (DL): A subset of Machine Learning that uses Artificial Neural Networks with multiple layers (hence "deep") to learn complex patterns from large amounts of data. It's particularly effective for tasks like image recognition, natural language processing, and speech recognition.

Neural Network (NN): A computational model inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. It consists of interconnected "neurons" (nodes) organized in layers, which process and transmit information.

Algorithm: A set of rules or instructions that a computer follows to solve a problem or complete a task. In AI, algorithms are the recipes that define how a model learns and makes predictions.

Model: The output of a machine learning algorithm after it has been trained on data. The model encapsulates the patterns and rules learned from the data, which can then be used to make predictions on new, unseen data.

Training Data: The dataset used to "teach" a machine learning model. It contains input examples along with their corresponding correct outputs (in supervised learning).

Inference: The process of using a trained AI model to make predictions or decisions on new, unseen data. This is when the model applies what it has learned.

Types of Learning

Supervised Learning: A type of ML where the model learns from labeled training data (input-output pairs). The goal is to predict the output for new inputs.

Examples: Regression (predicting a continuous value like house price), Classification (predicting a category like "spam" or "not spam").

Unsupervised Learning: A type of ML where the model learns from unlabeled data, finding patterns or structures without explicit guidance.

Examples: Clustering (grouping similar data points), Dimensionality Reduction (simplifying data by reducing variables).

Reinforcement Learning (RL): A type of ML where an "agent" learns to make decisions by interacting with an environment, receiving "rewards" for desired actions and "penalties" for undesirable ones. It learns through trial and error.

Examples: Training game-playing AI (AlphaGo), robotics, autonomous navigation.

Key Concepts in Model Building & Performance

Features: The individual measurable properties or characteristics of a phenomenon being observed. These are the input variables used by a model to make predictions.

Target (or Label): The output variable that a machine learning model is trying to predict in supervised learning.

Overfitting: When a model learns the training data too well, including its noise and outliers, leading to poor performance on new, unseen data. The model essentially memorizes the training data rather than generalizing patterns.

Underfitting: When a model is too simple to capture the underlying patterns in the training data, resulting in poor performance on both training and new data.

Bias-Variance Trade-off: A core concept in ML that describes the tension between two sources of error in a model:

Bias: Error from erroneous assumptions in the learning algorithm (underfitting).

Variance: Error from sensitivity to small fluctuations in the training data (overfitting). Optimizing a model often involves finding the right balance.

Hyperparameters: Configuration variables external to the model that are set before the training process begins (e.g., learning rate, number of layers in a neural network). They control the learning process itself.

Metrics: Quantitative measures used to evaluate the performance of an AI model (e.g., accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score for classification; Mean Squared Error, R-squared for regression).

Advanced AI Techniques & Applications

Natural Language Processing (NLP): A field of AI that enables computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language.

Examples: Sentiment analysis, machine translation, chatbots.

Computer Vision (CV): A field of AI that enables computers to "see" and interpret images and videos.

Examples: Object detection, facial recognition, image classification.

Generative AI: A type of AI that can create new content, such as text, images, audio, or video, that resembles real-world data.

Examples: Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT, image generators like DALL-E.

Large Language Model (LLM): A type of deep learning model trained on vast amounts of text data, capable of understanding, generating, and processing human language with remarkable fluency and coherence.

Robotics: The interdisciplinary field involving the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. AI often powers the "brains" of robots for perception, navigation, and decision-making.

Explainable AI (XAI): An emerging field that aims to make AI models more transparent and understandable to humans, addressing the "black box" problem of complex models.

Ethical AI / Responsible AI: The practice of developing and deploying AI systems in a way that is fair, unbiased, transparent, secure, and respectful of human values and privacy.

This glossary is just the beginning of your journey into the fascinating world of AI. As you delve deeper, you'll encounter many more specialized terms. However, mastering these foundational definitions will provide you with a robust framework to understand the current capabilities and future potential of artificial intelligence. Keep learning, keep exploring, and stay curious!

[newsmediapublisher]

ChatGPT Glossary: 50 AI Terms Everyone Should Know AI is becoming a part of our daily lives. To stay on top of dinner conversations, here are the important terms you need to know.

[kintatsujo]

me tapping at conlang cleanup in Google docs last night because that's where my brain has been for three days: I don't know, there's probably nuances to these bits, it's 230 am

[garymdm]

Building an effective AI Governance framework using your Data Catalog

Governed data catalogues like Data360 Govern are crucial to building an effective AI governance framework. These platforms offer a centralized repository for managing and governing data assets, providing valuable insights and facilitating responsible AI development. Here’s how Data360 Govern can be leveraged to build an AI governance framework: AI Business Case Data Inventory Data Quality AI…

[renard-dartigue]

Hi now i'm curious what is the beef with the rappers

Man this is going to be long so I'll try to keep this simple and entertaining. I hope this comes across as clear cause I'm shook right now.

Here is a glossarie to break thing up:

Prologue (The Spark 🔥)

Round 1.1 (Physical Education 💪🏾)

Interlude part 1 (Roots 🏠)

Round 1.2 (2 Warning Shots 🔫)

Interlude part 2 (Pusha the Seer 👁)

Round 2.1 (Knifes Out 🔪 )

Round 2.2 (The Nuke 💥)

Epilogue (All eyes on him 👀)

My Theory 🤷🏾‍♂️

Highly recommend checking out the tracks yourself while you read along.

Prologue (The Spark)

Let it be known that I am a neutral party and that I don't take sides when it comes to rap beef. I was here for the music and creativity. I am just trying to recount events to the best of my knowledge. Sorry if some details are inaccurate.

Okay so basically, Drake, J Cole, and Kendrick Lamar are the Big 3 of the rap world right now.

A month ago, Future and Metro Boomin (two rapper who supposedly don't fuck with Drake anymore) released a song with Kendrick Lamar called "Like That". In the song Kendrick took a shot at Drake and J Cole, saying there isn't a big 3, its only him on top.

4 weeks ago J Cole dropped a track called "7 Minute Drill" that is dissing Kendrick. However, in a move that is very uncharacteristic of J, he took down the official track and formally apologized to Kendrick. Thus signaling his exit from the rap battle.

ROUND 1.1 (Physical Ed)

Drake on the other hand dropped "Push Ups" 2 weeks ago, a diss track that went after other rappers he doesn't like but mainly Kendrick. In it, he made fun of Kendrick's height and his contracts. He then ends the song with "I was really try'n keep it PG" meaning he has a nuke on Kendrick that people don't know.

Not long later, Drake dropped ANOTHER diss track "Taylor Made Freestyle" with Ai voices of Snoop Dog and fucking 2PAC! Kendrick has stated before that 2pac is one of his idols so this must have been a deep cut. In the song Drake claims Kendrick doesn't write his own music and uses the writers of Taylor Swift. Relating a rapper to pop music is seen as disrespectful.

INTERLUDE PART 1 (Roots)

Before I continue, I want to give a brief run down on how the public perceives these two rappers.

Drake portrays himself as a superstar, he's always on social media flaunting his success and partying with other celebrities, seeing alot of women and living a lavish lifestyle. His music is catchy, something you put on in the club. Most of his fan base praise him for his sick beats and witty lyrics. He's been in the music industry for a while and is no push over.

Kendrick Lamar is a very private person, doesn't expose anything about his personal life unless its on a track. He almost never gets into fights with anyone. He is a family man, stressing the importance of being there for his wife and son and encourages other fathers to do the same. His fan base praise him for his creative lyrics and highlighting the black American condition.

ROUND 1.2 (2 Warning Shots)

2 Day ago, Kendrick Lamar came back with his first official diss track on Drake called "Euphoria". In this song, Kendrick goes in on Drakes fake personality. Drake has always been known around the community as a bit of a poser, he grew up in Canada and was raised by his white mother, a relatively comfortable childhood. He was a star on the popular show Degassi when he was young. garnering him a fan base early in his career. Kendrick doesn't approve of Drake appropriating black American culture and acting like he some tough guy. When in reality he is a Canadian nerd thats disrespectful to 2pac. All throughout the song, Kendrick hits at things that many people have know about Drake, such as his behavior around underage girls. He also called Drake a deadbeat father who isn't in his son's life, even referencing his lost battle to Pusha T. Then Kendrick finally warns him that he has more dirt that he is willing to share if Drake takes things further.

Similar to Drake, Kendrick dropped another track called "6:16 in LA" later that day. This song focuses on Drake's environment, specifically the people he hangs with. Kendrick implies that Drake paid people to dig into his background and when they didn't find anything, Drake made up stuff instead. Kendrick then says that someone in Drakes group is leaking information to him about something even more serious. Also planting a seed in Drake's mind that his supposed friends don't actually like him, just like the clout from hanging around him.

INTERLUDE PART 2 (Pusha the Seer)

Taking a quick break again, we need to discuss something that occurred long before Drake's battle with Kendrick.

5 years ago, Drake was in a rap battle with rapper Pusha T, someone who was smaller than Drake at the time in terms of popularity. Pusha dropped a song called "The Story of Adidon" where he dropped a bomb that Drake had a kid and wasn't taking care of him. Drake initially denied it but it was later revealed to be true.

Since then Drake has never responded to Pusha T's diss track, making Pusha the current winner. And Kendrick is bringing it back into the light.

Round 2.1 (Knifes Out)

Around 2 am EST time of May 4th, Drake drops his diss track, "Family Matters" one of his strongest songs, switching his flow 3 times in the span of 7 minutes. In true Drake fashion, its a club song with a catchy beat. Like his previous diss, its aimed at multiple people but the main focus is on Kendrick, even bring up "I was really try'n keep this PG".

Drake doubles down on his black identity and mocks the fact that Kendrick and other rappers are saying he isn't black, (incorrectly assuming that they are coming at him for being mixed when the real issue is that he is appropriating black American rap culture as a Canadian mixed man who grew up in a safe environment) Drake not only calls Kendrick a fraud who only raps about black issues for attention, Or that his activism is performative. He makes a shocking claims that Kendrick is a wife beater. Then Drake says that Kendrick's son doesn't belong to him and implies Kendrick's producer was the real father.

The track caused an uproar. But only for the span of 15 minutes. Because Kendrick did the unthinkable.

ROUND 2.2 (THE NUKE)

Almost as if expecting Drake's move, Kendrick Lamar did what no one saw coming. He dropped his diss track "Meet The Grahams" about 15 minutes after Drake released "Family Matters".

This time around, in a fashion almost unheard of from him, Kendrick strips all the usual metaphors from his lyricism and structures his track like he is speaking to Drake and his family, 4 parts per individual.

Kendrick begins by speaking to Drakes Son, Adonis, the same son Pusha T exposed Drake for neglecting 5 years ago. He's apologizing to him for his father's behavior. Kendrick speaks to him softly but sternly like a mentor, telling him not to be like his father. Kendrick tells Adonis all the things Drake did and warns him not to do them too: involved with escorts, plastic surgery to appear more black, surgery to look more muscular, hiding a kid. (Kendrick stresses that Adonis is black regardless of being mixed, further highlighting that he isn't discrediting Drake's blackness because he's mixed but because he isn't being himself.) Finishing of by telling the kid to be proud of who he is.

The second half is Kendrick addressing Drake's mother and father, Sandra and Denise. Kendrick speaks to her like he's revealing tragic news, explaining to her that her son is involved in disgusting things. He goes down a list of things, his tone growing more intense and angry. Kendrick then claimed that Drake is employing and enabling pedos in his group, and hopes they die. Even implying that his group is going to be raided by the feds some day.

The third half is the MOST shocking of all. Kendrick begins talking to an unnamed individual, simply calls her babygirl. Similar to Adonis, Kendrick takes on a somber tone and apologizes to her for Drakes behavior. He says its not her fault Drake abandoned her, says that she is deserving of love. He warns her not to become a target for people like Drake to pray on and says she has so much to offer the world.

Kendrick revealed Drake has ANOTHER kid and isn't in their life! (Allegedly)

To close of, the fourth half is Kendrick speaking directly to Drake, his tone tired. He tries to reiterate that he doesn't have hate for him. However, Kendrick says Drake was the first one to go after his family and he couldn't let it slide. He once again calls for Drake to take the mask off. Then says this isn't a rap battle anymore, tells Drake he is fighting himself.

Epilogue (All eyes on him)

And so here we are, waiting for what will happen next.

Drake posted an Instagram story denying the claim he has another kid. But given what happened with Pusha T, we can't quite take his word for it yet. We should wait a bit to see if anything comes out.

Kendrick hasn't put out a statement on Drake's claims about him but given the recurring theme of Drake being a manipulative lier, Kendrick clearly denies it. Given how private he is, its difficult to prove or disprove it. Much like Drake's claims, we will have to wait and see if any evidence comes out about it.

Drake and Kendrick stans are at eachothers throats right now, arguing over who one and whats real or fake.

Right now everyone is looking to see if Drake is going to continue the battle or stay silent like he did with Pusha.

My Theory

Personally as an outside observer who only followed the beef for good music. I think this goes beyond a simple rap battle.

Here is my theory: Someone from Drake's clique told Kendrick that Drake and his producers were writing something about him. Real or fake, Kendrick was pissed. And so he drafted 3 tracks, dumping everything he hates about Drake into them. And then, with the leaker's help, Kendrick baited Drake into a battle, goading Drake to drop the "Family Matters" track so he can shut the battle down with "Meet the Grahams". Or maybe his first 2 tracks were a warning to Drake that if he released a track with lies on him he would reveal he has another kid.

I do think Kendrick initially had good intentions in trying to help Drake be a better person. But maybe the more he learned about Drake the less sympathetic he felt.

But I don't know thats just how I see it.

Thanks for reading my essay. I hope it made sense heh. I encourage healthy discussions in the comments and reblogs please. But everyone agrees that Drake is inappropriate with young girls. We won't argue over that.

[intersex-support]

Intersex Support FAQ

1. What is intersex?

Intersex is an umbrella term that describes people who have variations in sex characteristics that fall outside of the sex binary. This includes variations in genitals, internal reproductive organs like testes and ovaries, chromosomes, secondary sex characteristics, and/or the way that your body produces or responds to hormones. Some examples of intersex variations include AIS, CAH, PCOS, Klinefelters, hypospadias, and more. 

The three main factors that define intersex variations are: 

Variation in sex characteristics 

The variation falls outside of the sex binary and is different from what is considered typical “male” or “female” development. These variations in traits might often be stigmatized and discriminated against for being outside of the sex binary.

This variation is either present from birth or develops spontaneously later in life. It is not caused by transitioning or by something temporary like a medication side effect, tumor, or other medical diagnosis. 

(This definition is inspired by InterACT).

2. Does ____ count as intersex? 

There are around 40 different intersex variations that are currently known. InterACT”s intersex variation glossary lists out those intersex variations and gives a brief description of each one.

However, we know that isn’t a complete list. People have intersex variations that haven’t been medically researched yet, or might have a rare variation that the intersex community isn’t aware of yet. 

There are also some variations that might seem on the border between perisex and intersex. Some types of hormonal or reproductive diagnoses might not have a clear answer on whether they’re intersex or not. 

Ultimately,  intersex is a social/political identity rather than a strictly medical one. Increased research and changing social attitudes can cause the definition of intersex to expand over time. Regardless of whether someone has a confirmed intersex variation or an “intersex adjacent” diagnosis, if intersex resources are helpful to you, we hope that you continue to use them and act in solidarity with the intersex community. 

On this blog, we do include PCOS with hyperandrogenism as part of the intersex community. Check out our PCOS tag for more posts about our reasoning, and PCOS specific resources.

3. Am I intersex?

We cannot diagnose you with an intersex variation over the internet. We can share resources such as the intersex variations glossary, share tips for navigating the medical system, and share information on other non-clinical signs of being intersex. 

Some questions to ask yourself that can help you start the process of intersex discovery:

What do my sex traits (genitalia, secondary sex characteristics, hormone levels, etc) look like? Does this seem like it lines up with the “typical” descriptions of those sex traits? 

Do I have any information about my birth? Were there any complications? Did doctors do extra testing at birth? Did doctors take me away from my parents for long periods of time? Did it take me longer to have my sex assigned at birth?

What was puberty like for me? Did I have early or late puberty? Did I have to go on hormones to start puberty? Did I have any variations in puberty, such as unexpected breast growth, irregular periods, or other changes? Did I go through puberty at all?

If you’ve tried to have children, are you infertile or struggling with fertility?

Did I have any unexplained surgeries or medical procedures as a child? Was I ever told I had to have organs removed and was told it was because of a cancer risk? Did I have to be on specific medications or hormones throughout my childhood? Did I have to go see a doctor more frequently? Did I go to an endocrinologist or pediatric urologist as a child? 

Do I have surgery scars or scar tissue? Do I have more frequent UTIs than typical?

Do I have access to my medical records? Is there records of hormone panels, ultrasounds, physical exams, surgeries, or other medical procedures? 

This kind of information can help you start to piece together if you think you might have an intersex variation, or if you think your intersex variation was hidden from you. 

If you’re sending in an ask trying to figure out if your symptoms line up with a specific intersex variation, please share as much information as you’re comfortable with so that we can answer with the most helpful resources. 

4. Can I self diagnose as intersex? 

It’s complicated! Intersex is different from other LGBTQIA identities, in that it’s not only about self determination, but also about our embodied experience in a very specific way. In order to be intersex, you have to have an intersex variation. And there are many intersex variations that can only be confirmed through medical testing, so it’s not something that is easy to self-diagnose.

However, we recognize that the medical system is expensive, discriminatory, and often actively hides information about people’s intersex variations from them. (it wasn’t even until 2006 that the AAP stopped recommending that doctors lie to their patients about intersex status, so many intersex adults were born before that policy change!) Considering all that we know about intersex oppression, curative violence, and medical abuse, it feels incredibly cruel to tell people that they have to force themself through that system in order to seek answers. 

So, we understand that there are ways of finding out that you are intersex without having a specific, confirmed, medical diagnosis. Many of us might find out that we’re intersex because we realize that our genitalia visibly looks different, and we can tell that we are intersex, even if we don’t know our specific diagnosis. Others might find out that we’re intersex because of strange discrepancies in our medical record. We might find out through discovering surgery scars on our body. We might go through puberty and realize that we’re developing in an atypical way to our peers. We might do a lot of research into intersex variations and have a pretty good guess into what variation lines up with our experiences. We might have some test results that help us understand we have intersex traits, even if we don’t know our specific diagnosis.  

Before self diagnosing, we think it’s important to do thorough research into intersex variations, so that you truly understand what intersex means, what intersex variations exist, and understand how that information applies to yourself. It’s also important to be considerate of how we interact in community spaces, and respect other intersex people's boundaries as you engage in a questioning or diagnosis process. 

5.  Are intersex people trans?

Some intersex people are trans, and some aren’t. Most intersex people are still assigned a gender at birth, and many intersex people who are raised as one gender and then later identify as another gender identify with the label trans. Intersex people can be cis or trans just like any other group of people. 

Many intersex people have complicated relationships with gender, and don’t feel like labels like cis or trans really fit their experiences. For this reason, terms like intergender and ipsogender were coined.

6. Are intersex people LGBTQIA?

It’s complicated! The “I” in LGBTQIA stands for intersex. Intersex history is intertwined with other parts of queer history. For example, the very first protest for intersex people in the United States was organized by Hermaphrodites with Attitude and Transexual Menace. There are intersex inclusive versions of community pride flags. Many intersex people view their intersex identity as a queer identity. Intersex oppression overlaps in many ways with homophobia and transphobia. 

However, not all intersex people think that intersex should be included in the LGBTQIA community. Sometimes this is for bigoted reasons, with intersex radfems who use this stance as a way to be transphobic. But there are also intersex people who think that the “I” should only be included in the acronym when intersex people are actually meaningfully being included in queer spaces and resources. Many of us feel frustrated when people put “LGBTQIA” on a resource but then don’t actually have any intersex specific information in those resources. 

In general, this is an ongoing intracommunity discussion where we don’t have a consensus. 

7. Are intersex people disabled? 

It’s complicated! Intersex is an umbrella term for many different experiences, and there is not one universal intersex experience. Some intersex people identify as disabled. Some intersex people do not.

Many intersex variations do cause disabling impacts in our bodies and lives. Some intersex variations are comorbid with other health conditions. Other intersex people become disabled because of violent normalizing interventions we’ve survived, such as forced surgery or other types of medical abuse. 

Intersex people are also impacted by many of the same structures of oppression that harm disabled people. Both intersex people and disabled people are harmed by ableism. Both intersex people and disabled people are harmed by pathologization. Both intersex people and disabled people are harmed by curative violence. 

In the book Cripping Intersex, Celeste Orr explores all these concepts and creates something called “intersex is/and/as/with disability,” which is a model to think about all these different and sometimes conflicting relationships with disability. Some intersex people might identify directly as disabled. Others might sometimes think about the way that intersex is treated as a disability. Other intersex people might think about intersex and disability as a way to have solidarity. All of these relationships with disability are meaningful parts of the intersex community. 

8. What is intersex oppression/intersexism/interphobia/compulsory dyadism? 

Intersex people face a lot of oppression in many ways in society. At the core, intersex oppression relies on the idea that the only acceptable sex traits are sex traits that fit into the sex binary. Intersex oppression relies on mythical ideas of the “ideal male or female” body, where someone's chromosomes perfectly line up with their genitalia and internal reproductive organs, with perfectly normal hormone levels and perfect secondary sex characteristics that don’t have any variation. When people don’t fit into that “perfect” sex binary, they are seen as less valuable, abnormal, and threatening. There is then a societal pressure to eradicate any traits and people that fall outside of the sex binary, which causes a lot of targeted discrimination of intersex people. This form of oppression is called “compulsory dyadism,” and was coined by Celeste Orr. 

Compulsory dyadism is also rooted in, overlaps with, and is the foundation for many other types of oppression. For example, ableism is another form of oppression that creates ways of harming people whose bodies and minds are labeled as less valuable for societally constructed reasons. Check out Talila Lewis’s definition of ableism for more information. Another example is how racialized people are targeted by sex testing policies in sports--both intersex and perisex women of color are consistently targeted by sex testing policies designed to exclude intersex people from sports. Another example is that homophobia and transphobia contribute to why intersex bodies are seen as threats that need to be eradicated--society views existing with intersex sex traits as a slippery slope to growing up as a gay or trans adult. Compulsory dyadism is also at the root of a lot of transphobic rhetoric about how transitioning “ruins” people’s bodies. All these forms of oppression are connected. 

There are a lot of ways that compulsory dyadism causes intersex people to be targeted and discriminated against. A huge issue is nonconsensual surgeries at birth, that attempt to “normalize” ambiguous genitalia, remove intersex people’s gonads, and otherwise alter genitalia or internal structures. These surgeries are often referred to as intersex genital mutilation, or IGM. These surgeries do not have any medical necessity, but doctors lobby to continue to be allowed to perform them anyway. These surgeries can sterilize intersex people, cause lifelong trauma, and also cause many disabling medical complications. Alongside IGM, intersex people also face a lot of different types of medical abuse. 

Besides curative violence and medical abuse, intersex people also face discrimination in our schools, jobs, and public places. We face legal discrimination in changing our names and sex markers. We face discrimination from institutions like CPS, which often target parents, especially people of color, that refuse to put their children through intersex genital mutilation. Many intersex people survive targeted sexual violence. We have a widespread lack of resources, visibility, and representation. Many people still have prejudiced ideas about intersex people and call us slurs. These are just a few examples of the many way that interphobia/intersexism show up in our lives. 

9. What is intersex justice? 

Intersex justice is a framework created by intersex activists through the Intersex Justice Project as a way to fight for intersex liberation. 

“Intersex justice is a decolonizing framework that affirms the labor of intersex people of color fighting for change across social justice movements. By definition, intersex justice affirms bodily integrity and bodily autonomy as the practice of liberation. Intersex justice is intrinsically tied to justice movements that center race, ability, gender identity & expression, migrant status, and access to sexual & reproductive healthcare. Intersex justice articulates a commitment to these movements as central to its intersectional analysis and praxis. Intersex justice acknowledges the trauma caused by medically unnecessary and nonconsensual cosmetic genital surgeries and addresses the culture of shame, silence and stigma surrounding intersex variations that perpetuate further harm.

The marginalization of intersex people is rooted in colonization and white supremacy. Colonization created a taxonomy of human bodies that privileged typical white male and female bodies, prescribing a gender binary that would ultimately harm atypical black and indigenous bodies. As part of a liberation movement, intersex activists challenge not only the medical establishment, which is often the initial site of harm, but also governments, institutions, legal structures, and sociocultural norms that exclude intersex people. Intersex people should be allowed complete and uninhibited access to obtaining identity documents, exercising their birth and adoption rights, receiving unbiased healthcare, and securing education and employment opportunities that are free from harm and harassment.” (Source: Dr. Mel Michelle Lewis through the Intersex Justice Project.)

There are seven principles to intersex justice: 

Informed consent

Reparations

Legal protections

Accountability

Language

Children's rights

Patient-centered healthcare

10. What is intergender? 

Intergender is a gender identity for use by intersex people only. It doesn’t have one specific definition-it is used by intersex people to mean a whole variety of things. It’s used to describe the unique ways our intersex experience intersects with and influences our gender.  Some people use it as a modifying term, such as calling themselves an intergender man or woman, as a way to explain the way being intersex affects their identity. Other people identify solely as intergender, and have that be their whole gender. 

11. What is dyadic/perisex/endosex? 

All are words that mean “not intersex.” Different groups will have different preferences on which one they like to use. 

12. Is hermaphrodite an offensive term? 

Yes. It is an incredibly offensive slur that perisex people should never say. Many intersex people have a very painful history with the slur. Some of us reclaim the term, which can be an important act of healing and celebration for us.

12. Can perisex people follow? 

Feel free, but understand that questions by intersex people are prioritized! Anyone is welcome to follow.

13. I’m writing a character who’s intersex…

Check out this post:  https://trans-axolotl.tumblr.com/post/188153640308/intersex-representation. If you’re writing about intersex people for a paid project, you should pay an intersex person to act as a sensitivity reader before publishing. 

Check out our Resources and Intersex Organizations pages as well!

[kotlcsummerexchange]

KotLC Recursive Exchange

Schedule (in CDT)

May 31: Discord server opens. Work nominations open.

June 14: Sign-ups open.

June 25: Work nominations close.

June 28: Sign-ups close.

July 1: Assignments are out.

July 31: Assignments are due.

August 7: Works are revealed, with all creators anonymous.

August 14: Creators are revealed.

August 17: Discord server closes.

What is this event?

This is an exchange where you make fanworks based off of fanworks! Like when someone draws fanart based on their favorite fanfiction. During work nominations, people will nominate the works they want involved in the exchange. You'll then be able to sign up to make fanfiction, fanart, poetry, and/or podfic based on these works.

This one will be a bit trickier to sign up for than our last exchange, but there will be tutorials and people happy to help! And please feel free to join the Discord even if you're not sure you want to participate. There are more resources, like a glossary of terms, there.

Gift Minimums:

Fic: 1000 words, with an ending

Art: A drawing completed to the standard you would normally post as "finished"

Poetry: 150 words OR a sonnet, villanelle, cascade, ghazal, pantoum, rondeau, or sestina

Podfic: Audio of either 1000 words or the complete work, whichever is shorter

Basic Rules for Participating:

You must be 13 or older.

You must join the Discord server and follow all the rules listed there.

You must have an AO3 account, sign up through AO3, and post your gift on AO3.

You must do your best to make a gift that meets the minimum requirements, and that you think your recipient will like, within the time of the event.

You must contact a moderator as soon as possible if you think you will not finish your gift in time.

You must keep your gift and recipient anonymous until creator reveals.

Links:

Discord server invite (accept the rules to see the full server!)

Request an AO3 account

FAQ

How will this event work?

You will sign up by offering and requesting gifts based on specific fanworks. These fanworks will be nominated during the work nominations period, and they will all have to have permission statements from their creators to be eligible.

For example, maybe I really want a story based on bookwyrminspiration's Shattered Upside Down, but about a specific side character. Quil has a permission statement on their AO3 profile saying fanworks are okay (with credit, and without AI). So I could nominate Shattered Upside Down and then request that story!

I can't find a permission statement from a creator. What do I do?

Ask nicely! You could try something like "Hi, I love your [stories/art/etc]! I'm going to be participating in an event where people make fic, art, and other fanworks inspired by KotLC fanworks. Would you be okay with people making fanworks based on your [stories/art/etc]?"

How many fanworks do I need to sign up?

You'll need to request at least three different works, and you'll need to offer at least four different works. At least two requests and three offers can't be based on works made by you.

What if I don't match with anyone?

If no one requests what you offer: We'll give you an opportunity to offer more things. If you do not want to, you will unfortunately not be able to participate in the exchange.

If no one offers what you request: You can still participate. We'll put you up as a pinch hit, meaning people can offer to make a gift for you without being assigned to.

What if no one knows about the work that I want to nominate?

There will be a channel to promote it in the Discord! Tell people all about why they should love it.

What if I don't get a gift?

We won't reveal the works until everyone has a gift. If no one picks up a pinch hit, the exchange will remain closed until someone does. Everyone who participates will receive a gift.

What isn't allowed in the exchange?

For the comfort of the most number of participants: noncon, incest, bestiality, romantic relationships between characters who are canonically adults (over 18) and characters who are canonically minors (under 18), and NSFW are not permitted. AI is also not allowed.

Considering the series, graphic violence and major character death are allowed, but only if the recipient says they're okay with receiving them.

My recipient requested ten things! How many do I have to make?

Only one! You can choose any of your recipient's requests to make, even ones you didn't originally offer.

Can I make more than one gift?

If you have more than one AO3 account, you may sign up multiple times. But please only do this if you're sure you can finish both gifts in time!

You can also be a pinch hitter, filling in for people who drop out, or make "treats"—extra gifts just for fun. But you won't receive extra gifts for either of these things.

[hectabdr]

Dragon Raja & Dragon King - All Novels in English

Hello, as some of you might have noticed in the pinned post, all the novels were recently added in English:

Dragon Raja I - The Blazing Dawn

Dragon Raja II - The Mourner's Eyes

Dragon Raja III - Black Moon Tide (Beginning) Dragon Raja III - Black Moon Tide (Middle) Dragon Raja III - Black Moon Tide (End) [1/2] Dragon Raja III - Black Moon Tide (End) [2/2]

Dragon King - World Reset (New version of Dragon Raja IV / Latest book.)

"Keep reading" for a small Q&A

Can I actually read these?

They are perfectly legible and easy to understand.

The translation itself was a multi-step process. I had to spend months collecting the originals in Chinese, researching, using different translators and even carefully training an AI with a huge lore glossary, then comparing the results of each method to make sure that I didn't leave anything out or something was misunderstood.

It might still have small errors here and there (feel free to let me know if you find one and I'll fix it promptly).

I spent a long time searching for mistakes or inconsistencies and fixing them. Regardless, I personally think the end result is very good, and I would actually recommend reading them now, especially when compared to the confusing google translations of the past few years.

Are these the canon ones?

Regarding the version of the novels that was used, for Dragon Raja I - III, since I don't have access to the revised editions, I used the originals, then added some of the revised edition changes myself to keep them consistent with the new canon.

Dragon King is a canon book, it takes place right after Dragon Raja III.

We're still waiting for Dragon King 2 to come out in China.

Why are there 4 links that say "Dragon Raja III"?

The story of Dragon Raja III is told in three books (Beginning, Middle and End). However, "End" was so long that I had to split it in two documents because I hit the character limit in google docs). Oh well.

[deception-united]

hi! do you know any good software where i can translate my writing?

Hi! There aren't many I've used myself, but here are a few I found that seem worthwhile.

Translation Software for Writing

Ginger

This isn't solely a translation software (mainly for grammar-checking), but it does have a translate function with over forty languages, as well as a tool that suggests rephrases to make it sound more like the native language (link). There are pricing plants, but at the time of posting this there's a promo on them all.

WhiteSmoke

Another software mainly for grammar, punctuation, style, and spelling, but with a well-developed translator that has 55 languages and a dictionary, thesaurus, and examples showing how a translated word is used in a sentence (link). Currently promo on their plans as well.

Lokalise

This is exclusively a translation software with a function that uses AI to translate "in bulk." It also allows you to collaborate and compare translations with those from other engines. This does have a free option, though its functions are more limited. (link)

Babylon Translator

A straightforward translation tool with over 75 languages and translation services that are both AI-powered and not, as well as dictionaries and glossaries. It also integrates with other software. There’s a free trial in which you can use one dictionary and a limited number of translations you can do. Subscriptions all seem to be annual. (link)

Hope this helped! Happy writing ❤

Previous | Next

[outofangband]

Yet another post on Aerin’s name and etymology; more in the character and BoLT tags

There is no known definite etymology for her name. Like other names with ae (Maedhros, etc), her name was originally Airin in earlier drafts but even in sources like the glossary of The Book of Lost Tales, no meaning for her name is given. The prefix air (later aer) is often sea related but while no etymology for her name is given in the Gnomish* lexicon, the word Air(in) appears as an abandoned word meaning holy or sacred. Indeed, later versions of this word that were kept by Tolkien fit the trend of ai becoming ae. Sindarin, which is derived from Gnomish, has the word aer to mean hallowed or holy. While it’s possible this was meant to be connected, it’s also possible Tolkien abandoned the word specifically because it didn’t fit with the given name Airin.

Anyways I’m just thinking aloud.

Morwen’s original names had no etymology either though I might have found one for the very first name Tolkien conceived for her

I did find another abandoned word with an ai prefix that might have fit. That one meant lonely. While I don’t think Tolkien intended this one to be related to the character of Aerin originally Airin, I found that very poignant given the deep and disturbing loneliness of Aerin’s story

Note: Gnomish was conceived around the time Tolkien was writing the book of lost tales and referred to the Noldor as gnomes or deep elves. Although Gnomish and Noldorin were spoken by the Noldor in Tolkien’s earlier drafts, both are related proto Sindarin languages

[serpentface]

Do you conlang? I was wondering if you had naming languages (or possibly even more developed ones) for pulling the words you use. I tried to search your blog but didn't find anything, wouldn't be surprised if the feature is just busted tho. Your worldbuilding is wonderful and I particularly enjoy the anthropological and linguistic elements.

Ok the thing is I had kind of decided I was not going to do any conlanging because I don't feel like I'm equipped to do a good job of it, like was fully like "I'm just going to do JUST enough that it doesn't fail an immediate sniff test and is more thoughtful than just keysmashing and putting in vowels". And then have kinda been conlanging anyway (though not to a very deep and serious extent. I maybe have like....an above average comprehension of how language construction works via willingness to research, but that's not saying much, also I can never remember the meanings of most linguistic terms like 'frictives' or etc off the top of my head. I'm just kinda raw dogging it with a vague conceptualization of what these things mean)

I do at least have a naming language for Wardi (and more basic rules for other established languages) but the rudimentary forms of it were devised with methods much shakier and less linguistically viable than even the most basic naming language schemes, and I only went back over it LONG after I had already made a bunch of words so there's some inconsistencies with consonant presence and usage. (This can at least be justified because it IS a language that would have a lot of loanwords and would be heavily influenced by other language groups- Burri being by far the most significant, Highland-Finnic and Yuroma-Lowlands also being large contributors)

The 'method' I used was:

-Skip basic construction elements and fully move into devising necessary name words, with at least a Vibe of what consonants are going to be common and how pronunciation works -Identify some roots out of the established words and their meanings. Establish an ongoing glossary of known roots/words. -Construct new words based in root words, or as obvious extensions/variants of established words. -Get really involved in how the literal meanings of some words might not translate properly to english, mostly use this to produce a glossary of in-universe slang. -Realize that I probably should have at least some very basic internal consistency at this point. -Google search tutorials on writing a naming language. -Reverse engineer a naming language out of established words, and ascribe all remaining inconsistencies to being loanwords or just the mysteries of life or whatever.

I do at least have some strongly established pronunciation rules and a sense of broad regional dialect/accents.

-'ai' words are almost always pronounced with a long 'aye' sound.

-There is no 'Z' or 'X' sound, a Wardi speaker pronouncing 'zebra' would go for 'tsee-brah', and would attempt 'xylophone' as 'ssye-lohp-hon'

-'V' sounds are nearly absent and occur only in loanwords, and tend to be pronounced with a 'W' sound. 'Virsum' is a Highland word (pronounced 'veer-soom') denoting ancestry, a Wardi speaker would go 'weer-sum'.

-'Ch' spellings almost always imply a soft 'chuh' sound when appearing after an E, I, or O (pelatoche= pel-ah-toh-chey), but a hard 'kh' sound after an A or U (odomache= oh-doh-mah-khe). When at the start of a word, it's usually a soft 'ch' unless followed by an 'i' sound (chin (dog) is pronounced with a hard K 'khiin', cholem (salt) is pronounced with a soft Ch 'cho-lehm')

-Western Wardin has strong Burri cultural and linguistic influence, and a distinct accent- one of the most pronounced differences is use of the ñ sound in 'nn' words. The western city of Ephennos is pronounced 'ey-fey-nyos' by most residents, the southeastern city of Erubinnos is pronounced 'eh-roo-been-nos' by most residents. Palo's surname 'Apolynnon' is pronounced 'A-puh-lee-nyon' in the Burri and western Wardi dialects (which is the 'proper' pronunciation, given that it's a Kos name), but will generally be spoken as 'Ah-poh-leen-non' in the south and east.

-R's are rolled in Highland-Finnic words. Rolling R's is common in far northern rural Wardi dialects but no others. Most urban Wardi speakers consider rolling R's sort of a hick thing, and often think it sounds stupid or at least uneducated. (Brakul's name should be pronounced with a brief rolled 'r', short 'ah' and long 'uul', but is generally being pronounced by his south-southeastern compatriots with a long unrolled 'Brah' sound).

Anyway not really a sturdy construction that will hold up to the scrutiny of someone well equipped for linguistics but not pure bullshit either.

[thydungeongal]

Is there a glossary for these acronyms you use? Because I'm pretty good at following your posts, but then I'll get stopped abruptly, like "wait, what's OSR?" or "what's PbtA?" and I know I can Google it but we're also on the site that allegedly convinced the Google AI to tell people that it's good to leave your dog in a hot car, so...

You could use another search engine but anyway I don't have a glossary at hand but I can define those terms for you:

OSR - stands for Old School [Renaissance/Revival/Revisionism], basically a broad modern design movement based on re-examining TSR editions of D&D (and sometimes other older RPGs while also sometimes omitting specific TSR editions of D&D) and either just creating new materials compatible with those games or creating entirely new games informed by those design principles.

PbtA - Powered by the Apocalypse, games that utilize the framework of Vincent and Meguey Baker's game Apocalypse World; Powered by the Apocalypse games often emphasize player-facing mechanics, shared narrative agency, and playing to find out what happens instead of following a strongly authored narrative.

Gleeblor -

[acesandocs]

Hei Hei

My name is Edd (she/him) and this is my Lackadaisy centric blog where i post and reblog (you guessed it) a variety of Lackadaisy content including: fanart, memes and my own art. I love anything to do with oc's especially, both mine and others. My main oc being Åse, nicknamed Ace. I also have two other blogs @coffeintheface and @missedditart.

If you have any triggers or subjects you blacklist feel free to send me a message and I’ll tag them for you. This blog is overall safe for work, but there are some posts that are risqué at the most. Those kinds of posts will be tagged with: cw suggestive. If you are a minor I urge you to block this tag or not follow this blog at all.

Oc interactons, fanart or questions are all welcome! I don't really do request or art trades, but willing to make exeptions for mutuals. I'm not comfortable with fanart that is serious nsfw or gore, as well as anything to do with ai.

Btw if you're looking to make your own Lackadaisy oc bio card i made a quick tutorial and resource compilement here!

fanart appreciation corner

More info and tags below

Info about OCs

Åse:

Bio card

How Ace fits into the Lackadaisy comic

family tree and timeline

voice claim

design reference sheet

Other ocs:

Unvale page with info on Åse and my other ocs

Tag glossary:

General tags:

#lackadaisy cats = For canon Lackadaisy characters

#lackadaisy oc = For oc's both mine and others

#oc posting = When something reminds me of my oc. Doesn't allways relate directly to lackadaisy.

#my little mutuals 🦄 = tags for mutal specific posts

#not main subject = Post not about Lackadaisy

#birthday post/#oc birthday = Posts for birthdays either for real people or ocs

Åse related:

#Åse ''Ace'' Olaug Årud = Anything to do with my primary Lackdaisy oc.

#åse info = General info and present story. for those who want to know who Ace is and how he fits into canon.

#åse lore = Ace's backstory and family. Just extra fun for those who want a peak into Ace's life before and after the Lackadaisy comic takes place. Will likely include several superfluous oc's.

#åse core = similarly to oc posting, this is for stuff that reminds me of Åse. More specifically objects and photographs. (also a low key excuse to show my followers cool stuff form my culture)

#Årud family or #Hall family = When a post is about one or more of Ace's family family members, corresponding to each of them. Also used so i dont have to individually tag like 7 characters.

#Åse by others = Fanart tag for Ace