Gay slang

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Gay slang (sometimes gayspeak) in linguistics refers to a form of English slang used predominantly among LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people.

Contents

1 Historical development
2 Differences and similarities to Polari
3 Cultural impact
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

Historical development

Slang frequently arises from the need or desire of a particular subculture to create or maintain secrecy, from want of recognition and acceptance, or fear of prejudice, persecution, or exposure; or to describe situations, acts and things not common in the dominant culture (see also argot).

Assimilation and use of slang also gives individuals a feeling of belonging - necessary in the creation, maintenance or reinforcement of a subculture, its values, politics and sociology.

Differences and similarities to Polari

Modern gay slang has origins in the English language, unlike its linguistic sibling, Polari, which derives from Italian languages, Lingua Franca, Yiddish and French. Baker, Paul (2002) Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang. London: Continuum ISBN 0826459617

Another difference between gay slang and Polari is that gay slang has become descriptive of the overall experience of life in the gay community, whereas Polari includes names for common words that have no exclusive relation to the LGBT culture (i.e. "glossies" for "magazines").. Gay slang also coexists along side regional slang and many gay men will use that along with that of the gay community.

Although there are differences, modern gay slang has adopted many polari words, as detailed in the table below:

''Source: Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang
Glossary of gay slang taken from Polari
Word Approximate meaning
basket the bulge of male genitals through clothes
butch masculine; masculine lesbian
chicken young boy
cottaging having or looking for sex in a public toilet
drag clothes, esp. women's clothes
mince walk (affectedly)
trade sex
troll to walk about (esp. looking for trade)
zhoosh style

''Source: **Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang**
*Glossary of gay slang taken from Polari*
Word	Approximate meaning
basket	the bulge of male genitals through clothes
butch	masculine; masculine lesbian
chicken	young boy
cottaging	having or looking for sex in a public toilet
drag	clothes, esp. women's clothes
mince	walk (affectedly)
trade	sex
troll	to walk about (esp. looking for trade)
zhoosh	style

Cultural impact

Many terms that originated as gay slang have become part of the popular lexicon. For example, the word drag, was popularized by Hubert Selby, Jr. in his book Last Exit to Brooklyn. "Drag" has been traced back by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) to the late 19th Century.

References

External links

[Spanish Language Gay Slang "Modismos Gay" from the Spanish Wikipedia]
[ROBERT SCOTT'S GAY SLANG DICTIONARY] In 1989 Robert Scott's gay slang become the first gay slang dictionary to be published to the Internet. In 1994 the dictionary took on a name change, and became Wizards Gay Slang Dictionary.
[Dictionary of Gay Slang and Historical Terms]
[GLTB Slang Dictionary]
[Language Gaymes]
[Lavender Linguistics, from Guardian Unlimited]
[Polari: British Gay Slang]
[Queer Slang in the Gay 90's]
[qWords.org — wiki-based dictionary of GLBTI slang, epithets, etc.]
[Sexuality as Identity: Gay and Lesbian Language]

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