Language of Homosexuality ABRENICA

Language of
Homosexuality:

A Morpho-Semantic
Analysis
By: Jose Elmer Oficiar, Ph.D.
ABSTRACT
The qualitative research ventured on revealing the reasons of using

gay lingo in the academic community and analyzing its unique
linguistic features. In identifying the linguistic features of gay lingo,
the researcher analyzed the data taken from the informants from their
simulation and list of gay words.
The data collected were treated using morpho-semantic analysis.
Morphological Analysis revealed patterns of sturctural formations in
gay words
Semantic Analysis revealed the semantic processes on the meanings
of gay words.
ABSTRACT
The findings of the study presented thoughts that clarified the reasons for
utilizing gay slang in the informants' individual situations.
The following themes emerged during the interview:

1. learning gay lingo from friends
2. sex talks
3. making gossips
4. sexual identity
5. sense of security
ABSTRACT
Morphological Analysis revealed
patterns of formation in gay words.
These patterns are: In Semantic analysis, it revealed the
semantic processes on the meanings
1. clipping with affixation of gay words. These process are:
2. variety formation
3. straight words derivation 1. corporal derivation
4. popular words derivation 2. mutual comprehension
5. gay word affixation 3. variety synonymy
6. foreign sounding
7. gay word expressions
Gay Lingo
Gay lingo is considered to be a language of one's sexuality.
Gay lingo becomes an iconic insignia of everything-“gay”.
Kulick (2003) - the study of language and sexuality involves not only how
people enact sexuality and perform sexual identity in their speech, but also how
sexuality and sexual identity are represented linguistically in a range of discourse
genres.
Harvey (2000) - stated that questions about 'how gay men communicate,
belong to what we would call the study of 'language and sexual identity.'
Lunzaga (2012) - gay lingo differs from place to place. Morphological forms of
gay lingo from Luzon could not be applicable in Visayas and so does in
Mindanao.
Methods
Qualitative Study using Critical Discourse Analysis

phenomenological approach. used to emphasize both
morphological and semantic
analyses
The gay students of Tagum's three major schools

were the informants and participants who share their
perspectives on their experiences with using gay
lingo in schools.
The Usage of Gay Lingo
Results &
Among Gay Friends
Discussions - this emphasized the idea that gays are free to use gay lingo
in public and in schools
- the more they use the specialized language the more
influential it becomes which
made it become more developed
- The school becomes their avenue to express this image of
being united with a common language (Darsey, 2009).
Sex Talk
- Roque (2007), sex is always in the menu when gays
converse in groups; sexual topics are frequently discussed
in gay conversations.
Talking About Gossips
Results &
- gays felt free to talk about gosspis using gay lingo because
Discussions
most of the people around them don't understand what
they're saying
- It gives a feeling of exclusivity when they talk about a
sexual experience which in most places considered being an
issue of morality.
Sexual Identity
- Gay people wanted to be recognized for their sexual
orientation. It's as if you're identifying with yourself. This is
their way of not only urging society to revere them, but also
of demonstrating their own self-respect.
Results & Sense of Security
Discussions - straight people can't understand gay lingo, so gays use it to

hide their ideas. Gay lingo has evolved into a code of
communication that is only understood by gays
Accdg to Hayes (1981), there are 3 specific function of gay

lingo:
1. it is a secret code developed for protection against
exposure
2. it is a code that enables the user to express a broad
range of roles within the gay subculture
3. it is a resource that can be used by radical-activists as a
means of politicizing social life,
MORPHOLOGICAL
ANALYSIS
OFGAY LINGOS
Clipping with
Affixation
This morphological process is

common in gay lingo. For example,
yay words like “jokaw” is formed
when the cebuano word “ikawis”
clippied to “kaw” and added with
the prefix “jo”.
Gay Word Variety
In this process, the gay word is

clipped (cut) and added with affixes
to form another variety. Gays usually
do this process due to gay words
exposed to straight people.
For instance, the gay word "judi-
an" is derived from the gay word
"judi" and added with the suffix "an".
Straight Words Derivation
This table presented how these
gay words are formed when they are
derived from existing straight words.
These words have different meanings
when they are used in gay lingo.
For example, the word “notebook”
when it is used in gay lingo it is used
to refer a male sex organ.
Popular Words
Derivation
Words like brand names, song titles,

names of celebrities and many others are
used as a gay word in the conversation.
Popular words like “Tuseran Forte” a brand
name for a cough medicine when used in gay
lingo becomes a gay word that refers to
sperm.
Gay Word
Affixation
This table shows that this process
occurs when an affix is added to a gay
word. This affixes becomes generic to
some gay word varieties. One affix is “jo”
when added to a word to form gay words
like joya (siya, iyaha) and jokaw (ikaw).
Foreign Sounding
In the given table, these varieties

of gay words give more flair and color
to the use of gay lingo. Words like
“yeba” sounding foreign in origin
would mean a lover.
A Japanese Nihongo sounding
word “NotaroWatashiwa” would
simply mean a male sex organ when
used in gay lingo
Gay Word
Expressions
This table shows that this are
single gay words when used in
conversation serves as interjections,
fillers, and substitutes for ideas
without gay word counterparts.
The gay word expression “shuna”,

this is uttered many times in
demonstrating an act.
SEMANTIC
ANALYSIS OF GAY
LINGOS
Corporal Derivations
This refers to physical attributes of a
straight word being derived as basis for the
usage of the word as a gay word. For
instance, the word “notes”, it refers to a
male organ in gay lingo. This is derived from
the figure of a musical note which is closely
related to a figure of a penis. The gay term
“dakilanglahi” refers to a large male sex
organ in gay lingo. The word “dakila” is
connotatively associated with large size and
“lahi” is associated with race.
Another example is the gay word
“chaka” which means ugly in gay lingo. This
word is associated from a television show in
GMA portraying a doll named “chaka doll”
that narrates horror stories on screen
Mutual Comprehension
These are meanings of a gay word

which all gays in a locality share the same
understanding. These were derived from
local names, places, or common expressions
with friends which were added in gay lingo
conversations.
Variety Synonymy
These are meanings of a gay word

which all gays in a locality share the same
understanding. These were derived from
local names, places, or common expressions
with friends which were added in gay lingo
conversations.
Implications in Sociolinguistic
Language & Sex (Thorne and Henley, 1975) - The change reflects a general trend
among social scientists and humanists to distinguish gender (socially constructed)
from sex (biological), and to favor gender when discussing men and women's social
behavior and relationships.
According to Cameron (2003), sex in its ‘other’ sense of ‘erotic desire/practice’ has
been progressively displaced for the purposes of theoretical discussion by
sexuality. Sexuality, like gender, is intended to underline the idea that we are
dealing with a cultural rather than purely natural phenomenon.
The qualitative research's findings, as well as the analyses of such findings, revealed
concrete evidence that sexuality and gender issues should be treated separately.
Implications in Language Teaching
The result of the analysis in the morpho-semantic features could be used

for teaching influence of language in social context.
It could be helpful in explaining how subgroups in society could develop

their own language to communicate with each other.
This will be hel[ful on explaining language is affected by situations and how

words could be associated to form new words.
It would concretize the structure of gay lingo.

Implication for Further Research
The focus group discussion's outcome provided an overview of how gay lingo
evolves over time specially in the scholarly community.
Another study could be attributed on the linguistic features of gay lingo in

different areas whether they are distinctive or similar.
Gay lingo is evolving at a rapid pace. Researchers should take advantage of this
opportunity to stay current with
it's rapid development. Paying attention to gay lingo is likely to strengthen the
relationship even more.
Acceptance of gay people in society as a whole

Conclusion
Gay lingo has always been an expression of a gay’s blissful feelings,

erotic emotions, and even his poignant defeat. It is a specialize
language that truly defined a gays culture: A culture full of color and
life. In sociolinguistics, language is culture and I could say that gay lingo
is definitely gay culture. It is unique and distinctive.

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Language of

The qualitative research ventured on revealing the reasons of using

The following themes emerged during the interview:

Qualitative Study using Critical Discourse Analysis

The gay students of Tagum's three major schools

Discussions - straight people can't understand gay lingo, so gays use it to

Accdg to Hayes (1981), there are 3 specific function of gay

This morphological process is

In this process, the gay word is

Words like brand names, song titles,

In the given table, these varieties

The gay word expression “shuna”,

These are meanings of a gay word

These are meanings of a gay word

The result of the analysis in the morpho-semantic features could be used

It could be helpful in explaining how subgroups in society could develop

This will be hel[ful on explaining language is affected by situations and how

It would concretize the structure of gay lingo.

Another study could be attributed on the linguistic features of gay lingo in

Acceptance of gay people in society as a whole

Gay lingo has always been an expression of a gay’s blissful feelings,

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