As LGBTQ rights were not yet established in Western countries, queer people had to fear discrimination or even prosecution. To express their ‘unnormal’ sexual identities, gay subcultures were formed, and language varieties, known as gay lingo or gay slang, served as a secret form of communication, and a reinforcement of gay identity within these communities. In Great Britain, mainly London, an anti-language called Polari emerged and was spoken especially in the 1950’s and 60’s (Baker 2002). As homosexual acts under certain circumstances were decriminalized in the United Kingdom, the slow decline of the anti-language began until it vanished almost completely (Baker 2002). Another gay lingo found in the Philippines, referred to as Swardspeak, emerged in the 1970’s, and contrary to Polari, is still actively spoken today. I will analyze how both language varieties compare to one another, and why they progressed differently. The essay will examine what distinguishes slang from other language varieties, will compare the linguistic features and sociolinguistic background of both varieties, and lastly will scrutinize the sociohistorical differences of Great Britain and the Philippines to explain why Swardspeak is still spoken, while Polari is a ‘dead’ variety.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Slang
2.1 Polari
2.2 Swardspeak
2.3 Comparison of Linguistic Features
3 Sociohistorical Background
3.1 Great Britain
3.2 The Philippines
Objectives and Themes
This study explores the development and function of gay subcultural languages, specifically comparing the British sociolect Polari with the Filipino sociolect Swardspeak, to understand why the former became extinct while the latter remains active.
- The linguistic characteristics and word formation processes of Polari and Swardspeak.
- The role of anti-languages in concealing identity and constructing safe spaces.
- The influence of sociohistorical contexts on the survival of subcultural registers.
- The evolution of gay identity and its impact on the use of specialized gay slang.
- The intersection of cultural stereotypes and linguistic reclamation.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Polari
Polari derived from other slangs as Cant, Back slang or Parlyaree as “the result of a number of converging subcultures over many decades” (Baker 2002: 19). Baker states that subcultures serve as problem-solving devices by creating an own social identity “based upon recognisable stereotypes” (2002: 9 f). Polari serves as a “key to enter” the subculture, maintains it, and is a key factor in the construction of gay identities (Baker 2002: 9-14). The Polari speech community therefore not only used the slang for secrecy, but also to construct their identities by accepting and embracing their ‘otherness’.
The slang’s most distinct feature is its vocabulary, which focuses on describing social and sexual identity (Baker 2002: 61), by majorly consisting of words concerning peoples’ occupations, body parts, clothing, sex, sexual orientation, gender, and age (Baker 2002: 41). Polari speakers refer to themselves and others as women and use female words to refer to their effeminacy (Baker 2002: 44). This compares gay men to heterosexual women, for both having men as sexual partners (ibid). With men being viewed as the more powerful gender in society, female references and comparisons “highlight the ‘other’ or disempowered” and contribute to one’s own acceptance and embrace of gay identity by reclamation and identification (ibid). Word formation processes used are mainly clipping, acronymy, blending, compounding, and suffixation (see examples 1-5) (Baker 2002: 58-60).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the context of LGBTQ persecution in the mid-20th century and outlines the research objective to compare the disappearance of Polari with the persistence of Swardspeak.
2 Slang: This section defines slang as an anti-language used by marginal groups and analyzes the specific linguistic structures, vocabulary, and word formation processes of Polari and Swardspeak, alongside a comparative linguistic analysis.
3 Sociohistorical Background: This chapter examines the distinct societal developments in Great Britain and the Philippines, explaining how historical shifts in gay identity and societal acceptance directly influenced the status of both languages.
Keywords
Polari, Swardspeak, Gay Lingo, Anti-language, Sociolect, LGBTQ, Subculture, Linguistics, Identity Construction, Great Britain, The Philippines, Sociolinguistics, Slang, Effeminacy, Reclamation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines the nature of gay subcultural languages, specifically Polari in Great Britain and Swardspeak in the Philippines, focusing on their linguistic features and social functions.
What are the central themes explored?
Central themes include the role of language in constructing gay identity, the use of slang as a tool for secrecy, and the influence of sociohistorical changes on the survival of these language varieties.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to explain why Polari became a dead language following the decriminalization of homosexuality in the UK, while Swardspeak remains an actively spoken register in the Philippines.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The study utilizes a comparative analysis approach, looking at morphological word formation processes, stylistic devices, and sociological historical records of both regions.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body defines the taxonomy of slang, details the specific linguistic mechanisms of Polari and Swardspeak, and conducts a sociohistorical analysis of how societal attitudes toward gay identity evolved in both countries.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include Polari, Swardspeak, Anti-language, Sociolect, Gay Lingo, Subculture, and Identity Construction.
How does the author define an "anti-language"?
Drawing on Jonathan Green and Paul Baker, the author defines an anti-language as a sociolect that acts as a "conscious alternative" to mainstream society, used by anti-societies to conceal identity or speech.
Why did Polari fade away in Great Britain?
Polari vanished because it was associated with an effeminate, secretive gay identity that became obsolete or considered disrespectful as the gay liberation movement shifted toward a hyper-masculine identity imported from the US.
What makes Swardspeak different in terms of its status?
Unlike Polari, Swardspeak remains current because it continues to serve as a vital tool for communicating within a social identity based on effeminate stereotypes, which are still culturally recognized in the Philippines.
- Quote paper
- Sophie-Luise Müller (Author), 2018, Gay Lingo in Great Britain and the Philippines. A Comparison of the Sociolects Polari and Swardspeak, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/465021
