Gender- Sexuality

Question 1

Language and sexuality

Answer 1

Typically more stereotypical female language traits in a male’s speech connotes homosexuality.
Lakoff suggested gay speech mirrors the typical traits of female speech.

Question 2

Podesva (2007)

Answer 2

Researched falsetto as a marker of homosexual language and perfomativity of sexuality.
Recorded the speech of a gay man with his gay friends, his father, and at work.
Found that falsetto was used to construct social meaning and community, allowing more expression with friends.

Question 3

Argot

Answer 3

A lexically divergent form of a language, with vocabulary replaced by words lesser known by the public.

Question 4

An example of an Argot

Answer 4

Polari- used by homosexuals and incorporating Italian, rhyme and Romani, as a secret coded language

Question 5

Halliday’s Anti-language theory

Answer 5

Used the term anti-language to describe the lingua franca (common language) of an anti-society, which has formed this language to prevent outsiders from understanding their communications.

Question 6

Swales (1988)

Answer 6

Discourse communities- consisting of people who use a language for the same goals and purposes.

Question 7

Features of a discourse community

Answer 7

Common goals- shared objectives
Intercommunication- specific ways to communicate
Specialised language-unique jargon
Genres- established forms of communication
Membership- experienced members help newcomers
Threshold for entry- members must gain certain skills or knowledge.