Language And Sexuality

Question 1

Gender

Answer 1

The social and cultural roles, behaviours and expectations associated with the male/female spectrum

Question 2

Sexuality

Answer 2

The expression of one’s sexual orientation, desires and preferences

Question 3

Heteronormativity

Answer 3

The assumption or belief that heterosexuality is the norm

Question 4

Stereotype

Answer 4

An oversimplified representation of a person, group, institution or event

Question 5

Polari

Answer 5

Slang used by gay men to communicate secretly during 1950s and 60s when homosexuality was illegal

Question 6

Paul Baker (2002)

Answer 6

• Outlined features of Polari

E.g.
Rhyming slang
Back formation
French, Italian
Criminal Slang
Acronyms

Question 7

Rhyming slang

Answer 7

Slang in which the word intended is replaced by a word or phrase that rhymes with it

(E.g. plates of meat = feet)

Question 8

Back formation

Answer 8

The creation of a new word by removing part of an existing word

(E.g. ecafe = eek)

Question 9

Acronym

Answer 9

A word composed of the first letters of the words in a phrase

(E.g. naff = not available for fucking)

Question 10

Anti-language

Answer 10

A language used by a subculture as a way of expressing themselves to prevent outsiders from understanding what is being said

Question 11

Michael Halliday (1978)

Answer 11

• Coined the term ‘anti-language’ when discussing the language of Polish prisoners (can also apply to Polari)
• Shows membership to a subculture
• Protects the subculture
• Constructs an alternative social reality which reflects the social values and beliefs of the subculture

Question 12

Lavender Linguistics

Answer 12

The study LGBTQ+ speech and language

Question 13

William Leap (1993)

Answer 13

• Created the term ‘Lavender Linguistics’
• Observed that certain words and phrases are often associated with specific sexual orientations, and that the use of these words can signal one’s identity to others

Question 14

Robin Lakoff (1975)

Answer 14

• No study and evidence (observational)
• Stated that gay men deliberately use female speech patterns (tag questions, empty adjectives, minimal responses, etc.)

Question 15

Judith Butler (1990)

Answer 15

• Gender therorist rather than linguist
• Introduced the idea of performativity
• your use of language and your behaviour can perform an identity
• concluded that gay men use female speech patterns to diverge from language of heterosexual men

Question 16

Keith Harvey (1998)

Answer 16

• Camp talk: a form of language characterised by exaggerated gestures, tone of voice and flamboyant behaviour often associated with LGBTQ+ communities used as a way to express identity and create solidarity
• Features: Co-occurence of explicitness and delicacy, Inversion of grammatical gender, Puns, Use of French

Question 17

Co-occurence of explicitness and delicacy

Answer 17

The use of explicit or direct language alongside more subtle expressions

(E.g. You’re sweating like a pig. I don’t sweat, dear, I perspire)

Question 18

Inversion of grammatical gender

Answer 18

The intensional use of language that reverses traditional gender associations and challenges stereotypical gender roles

(E.g. calling men by female names referring to a man as ‘she’)

Question 19

Puns

Answer 19

Wordplay that exploits multiple meanings or similar sounds of words for humour or rhetorical effect.

(E.g. My dear, your hair looks as if you’ve dyed)

Question 20

Use of French

Answer 20

Incorporating French words or phrases into language

(E.g. This is the salle a manger but I haven’t actually manged in it for years)

Question 21

Don Kulik (2003)

Answer 21

• No research and evidence
• Argued that you cannot tell someone’s sexuality because of their langauge use
• Believes that different sexualities use the same language as those used by heterosexual individuals

Question 22

Robert Podesva (2011)

Answer 22

• Speech can change depending on contextual factors
• Small scale study by follwing a man named ‘Heath’ in workplace, dad and a BBQ with friends and boyfriend
• Sociophonetic variation: pitch, tone
• Falsetto (high pitch) only at BBQ
• Performing an identity which is relevant to his sexuality and is an important part of his identity when with his friends