Language and Sexuality

Question 1

Lakoff

Answer 1

In her book, Lakoff compares gay male speech traits to those of women and argues that gay men consciously and deliberately imitate these traits.

Question 2

Leap

Answer 2

LGBT community do communicate with each other in ways that are different to heteros.

Question 3

Polari

Answer 3

Language used by the gay community to separate themselves from others:
‘Camp’ and ‘Butch’

Question 4

Paul Baker

Answer 4

Spent several years researching these ‘different’ ways and the speech of this social group.
The language is characterised by acronyms, plays on words, double meanings and a range of lexis used that is only intended to be understood by the gay community.