Lavender Language: Beyond the coded words and its Impact in Socioinguistic

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A Case study presented to the Faculty of the Education Program

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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subject

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Ana Marie S. Tagalogon

December 2022
I. INTRODUCTION
 Background of the Study

Swardspeak is an unique slang term used in the Philippines by the Queer community,

particularly the male gay community. It is referred to as "gay lingo" or "gay talk," and it is a

combination of English, Tagalog (one of the official languages of the Philippines), as well as

other local dialects and languages including Cebuano, Waray, Bicolano, and Hiligaynon. The

independence of the LGBT language makes it a suitable topic for research on the

grammatical rules associated with this because the language is unrestricted by social

conventions. The language's regular updating of its vocabulary also constantly reaches its

exposed populations. The use of gay terminology has an impact on both adults and children.

The LGBT community in the Philippines borrowed numerous terms and phrases from these

languages to create their own dynamic language. Swardspeak as it is more popularly known

in the Philippines also incorporates words from Spanish and Japanese. Names, brandnames,

words and phrases are all given new meanings in swardspeak. It is a word coined by the

1970s movie critic and columnist, Nestor U. Torre. Filipino slang refers to a male

homosexual by the term "sward," which is defined as turf in the dictionary. The majority of

gay slang, gay lingo, gay speak, and gay languages originated as anti-languages.

Marginalized groups typically create anti-languages as a form of hidden communication. It

was vital to have a language that was only understood by homosexuals and possibly by

people who supported the gay community in order to survive in an oppressive environment

where they and their lifestyle were frequently despised.

American linguist J. Stephen Quakenbush (2015) justified the Philippines' several languages

and the rise of swardspeak in society. Like any other language, swardspeak is not disturbing,

but it should be assessed according to how well it is used by its users and how well those
users are able to communicate and express their needs. Although it is challenging for a

learner or a non-speaker, this language's intricacy is what sets it apart. Through the use of

technological innovations of mass communications, people are getting connected to one

another. It is also the reason why people are becoming more aware of other cultures and

lifestyles (Ayensu, 2013). In this instance, many highschool students engage in using

swardspeak and acquire language in daily conversation whether in formal or informal

setting. Thus, students’ performance in language subjects may be affected in this manner.

Gay men in the Philippines, especially those who are out, speak to each other using a

colorful language that they invented. Unaware with the language caused confusion and

curiosity that triggers the listener to study and try to be familiar. Students who use

swardspeak may have reasons like they use swardspeak because they want to avoid having

other people hear what they are talking about, especially when it comes to sex. This is also a

means of defying the cultural norms and creating an identity of their own. The reasons why

not much attention is paid to gay language studies are that society has a homophobic

attitude towards gay men, and gay speech is stereotypically been thought of being similar to

women’s. With the acceptance of the gays in the society comes the propagation of the gays’

spoken discourse commonly known as gay lingo. Gay lingo is composed basically of terms

derived from existing terminologies like waz from Cebuano word wa (meaning nothing);

bobokish from the Tagalog term bobo (meaning dull); and zerowena from English term

zeroTOM Jones meaning guTOM na ako. Languages evolve. New words are created and

others disappear. Gayspeak is the most unstable and malleable of all languages.

Documenting gay lingo, therefore, is deemed important for posterity reasons. They may be

used as references or as aids in understanding the meaning of future literature material

written today.(Lunzaga, 2011)

homosexual community as a tool to communicate with each other. Jovy Peregrino, director

of the University of the Philippines - Diliman Sentro ng Wikang Filipino, reportedly

expressed support to the growth of the bekimon language. However, learning about formal

languages such as Filipino and English should not be sacrificed. The propagation of this form

of communication is unstoppable. Once the not-sosecret language of homosexuals; gay lingo

is no longer exclusive to gays much to our divas dismay. From its grassroots beginnings in

obscure parlors around the city it has infiltrated the tri-media and is now being spoken or

understood or both by every Juan, Juana, Nene and Boy in the Philippines. Almost everyone

can now speak this once hard to break “gay code of communication”. No one it seems is

excluded from the allure of this lingo that is funny and irreverent at the same time. It has

become some kind of a secret guilty pleasure. . Some other terms are perceived to have

originated from part of the sound of a person’s name like

Purpose of the Study

Identifying the purpose is very essential in the study of gay lingo. This does not only answer

the clinging questions of “why are gays using it?” but it also surfaced the deeper reasons of

using gay lingo in conversations. The first theme that was expressed in this study is on the

usage of gay lingo among gay friends. This highlighted the idea that gays have freedom of

using gay lingo in schools. Gay lingo became their expression when they are in their

classrooms and having chitchats with co-gays and straight people as well. This does give a

great deal in the evolution of gay lingo in schools. The more they use the specialized language

the more influential it becomes which made it become more developed. In the same sense,

James Darsey (2009) in his book consistently

overlay difference with the solidifying image of ‘the gay community’; one which, moreover, is

said to use language in identifiably ‘gay’ ways. The school becomes their avenue to express

this image of being united with a common language.

gays converse in groups. He also pointed out that it becomes a perceived thought that this

really defines homosexuality in the Philippines. Talking about sexual topicsis very common

among gay conversations. They felt the freedom of talking about gossips is the third reason

since most of the people around them doesn’t understand what they are saying. It gives a

feeling of exclusivity when they talk about a sexual experience which in most places

considered being an issue of morality. According to Rubin (2005), it is a commonplace of

contemporary discourse about sex that talking about it is intrinsically a good and liberating

thing. She said that there is a widespread beliefthat, until very recently, the subject was so

veiled in shame and ignorancethat it could hardly be broached in discourse at all, and that

we are still inthe process of breaking that silence. She also believe that we are apt to

congratulate ourselveson our openness to sex-talk, contrasting our modern, enlightened

attitudesfavourably with the prudishness of previous eras when such talk was

taboo –censored in public discourse, and repressed even in private. The fourth reason that

was identified is for sexual identity. Expressing your identity is a unique clamour for any

homosexual. This does not only touch ideas if self-identity but of specific issues in sexual

identity. Gay wanted to be identified by their sexual preference. It’s like an identification of

being you. This is their way not only urging the society to revere them but also as a sign of

selfrespect. Gay lingo becomes their identity of their sexuality in a form of a specialized

language. This supported by Valentine (2003) when he mentioned in his article that the

study of language and sexuality encompasses not only questions about how people enact

sexuality and perform sexual identity in their talk, but also questions about how sexuality

and sexual identity are represented linguistically in a variety of discourse genres.

The fifth reason is having a sense of security. Gays are using gay lingo to hide ideas from

straight people. Gay lingo becomes their code in communication that is exclusive only to

gays. They can talk absolutely anything because only they can decode them when they are

conversing with each other. This was in lined with the ideas of Hayes (1981) when he

suggested that have three specific functions or dimensions: (1) it is a secret code developed
for protection against exposure (characterized linguistically by use of innuendo and by the

avoidance or switching of specific gender reference when discussing one’s partner or

friends); (2) it is a code that enables the user to express a broad range of roles within the gay

subculture (characterized by camp and an extensive vocabulary defining sexual roles and

behaviours); and (3) it is a resource that can be used by radical-activists as a means of

politicizing social life, for example, when they ‘make over’ pejorative terms like fag or dyke,

and ‘turn them back’ as symbols of defiance (1981).

Theoretical Lens

“Language does change, and it is just as impossible to preserve the tongue that

Shakespeare spoke as it is to stop cultural change” (Crystal, 2012). For Murtiana (2012)

language change is a phenomenon in which language features like phonetic, lexis, syntax,

and semantic vary as a result of the changing needs. As a language used by many peoplet

hroughout the world, English has undergone a series of fascinating changes since the Old

English until now. The English expressions which hundred years ago were considered simple

and colloquial might seem strange to today’s generation. Language is dynamic. Language is

never static, it is dynamic which goes on changing. Language occupies an important place in

the lives of human beings. Languageis the very medium of expression.

The everyday activities of life are sure to come to an end unless language functions as a

means of communication. Language is inextricably tied up with the social and cultural

evolution of mankind. Language is as familiar as the air we breathe or the saliva that we

carry in our mouth. So we are hardly conscious of its significance. However, effects of

language are most remarkable. It is in fact languagethat distinguishes human beings from

the animals. Barber rightly remarked “languageisthe most remarkable tool that man has

invented and is one that makes all other possible”(Drakakis & Liebler, 2014). This study

also is hinged on Lavender Linguistics and Queer Theory as cited in Luyt (2014). She defined
Lavender (queer) Linguistics as a subsection of Sociolinguistics which has built on ideas

from Queer studies that sexual and gender identities are constructed. She further added thaall

sexual and gender identity labels, whether biological or socially constructed. Furthermore, from the

Queer.

Linguistics viewpoint, the binary distinction between language use and system must be questioned

because discourses affect both, although they exhibit different degrees of discursive materialization.

This study is anchored in the linguistic relativity theory (Whorf in Davis & Reynolds [6]), which

proved that speaking a heavier gender language can highlight gender differences in the minds

speaking, leading to clearer gender roles and greater differences in social outcomes among the

genderst Lavender Linguistics is based on Queer Theory, the philosophical analytical viewpoint which

questions.

Importance of the Study

This can be helpful to other students and faculty who are heterosexuals

to have reference of some of the gay lingo that are used by homosexuals. Moreover,

findings of the study will have contribution to the literature of gay sociolinguistics in the

country and in the world. This study was conducted to identify factors influencing the usage of gay

lingo among millenials as a way of communicating. It also aimed to determine the extent of utilization

and the effects of using the gay lingo . To determine and describe the use of gay lingo as a wa of

communication among millenials. To describe the socio-demographic profile of the respondents. To

identify the factors influencing the usage of gaylingo among millenials. To determine extent of

utilization of the respondents to gaylingo. To know the Influence of using gaylingo among millenials

through the relationship of socio-demographic profile, source of information and number of gay

friendsn characteristics of the respondents.

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Swadspeak is a term used to describe “overly careful pronunciation, a wide pitch range, high and

rapidly changing pitch, breathy tone, lengthened fricative sounds…Also ritual insults, irony, sarcasm,

use of sexual and erotic reference, and women-relatedimagery and metaphor… slang and other new

words, mostly relating to aspects of gayand lesbian culture” (Sims, 2014). There are many other

expressions that define the same:

LGBT speak, LGBT slang, queerspeak, gay slang, homosexual slang, gay language, etc. Additionally, in

the terms of studying the language of LGBT hereinafter, gayspeakers, Professor William Leap coined

the term “lavender linguistics” (Bobeda, 2012). It concerns the language of non-heterosexual speakers,

hence the adjective lavender and not a specific adjectival word for the sexual orientation of the

speakers. In parallel, the term “lavender lads” is used repeatedly in 1950s by American Senator

Everett Dirksenasa synonymic metaphor for a homosexual (Bailey, 2014). Since gays were

marginalized more than today, at least in developed countries, it

was crucial for them to create a language which an outsider will not knowabout. “Secret

languages emerge from situations in which a community feels the need to conceal the content of their

utterances from the outside world” and that community is “threatened by

other communities” (Taylor, 2017). The language ancestor of modern gayspeak is Polari, the

underground language, or to be exact, a jargon and a secret vocabulary used not only by homosexuals,

but also showmen, criminals, gypsies, men serving in the navy, etc. Since homosexuals were, and still

are, but with more equal rights than ever inhistory, insecure about their lives, especially during the

World War II and afterwards, they felt the need to speak in a manner of the “overall structure of a

larger language, witha coded lexicon” (Taylor, 2017) to feel more-or-less equal to everyone else, to

pass thevital

information incognito, and, ultimately, to start to feel more human. The swarspeak is characterized by

an abundance of sex themed expressions andexpressions for physical appearance, and intimacy of

relationship, rank and eccentricitieswithin the subculture (Hayes, 2016). It was important for gays to

keep the languagehidden from the majority which resulted in “over-lexicalization of terms for sex,

bodyparts, and people” (Taylor, 2017) and are direct reflections of abstract thoughts basedonliteral

ones. Today, with gays being more and more accepted in society, the domainsofinterest or, in this

case, lexical domains are easier to understand and because of that it ispossible to conduct a

metaphorical conceptualization. Swardspeak according to Alba (2016), is the language of Filipino

Evenwomen these days are known to have been using swardspeak. The use of swardspeakhasbecome

prevalent even among women; those who are referred to as babaengbakla(Garcia, 2015), also known

as fag hag, as early as four decades ago. Aside fromthis, swardspeak is also adaptive. A set of gay

vocabulary is determined by the social classtheuser belongs to, since many if not all of the words

created or modified in swardspeakis

9from another language. Thus, diction is affected by the profession, orientation, principles, or even

environment of the Filipino gay individual. Those from with extensive educationbackground and

considered part of the upper working class stratum, wouldhaveadifferent set of words used compared

to those of the lower strata (e.g. Penicillinandnochikels both pertain to phallus). The spectrum of users

of this language basedonagealso enjoys a wide range just by inference on how the 1970s Philippine

societal scenariowas teeming and flamboyantly active. But, Garcia may have posited that swardspeak,

asublanguage, “provided gays symbolic purchase into sexuality”. Aside from sex, the other concerns

which swardspeak apparently addresses areidentity, community-formation, and the outing of

someone whom swardspeaker thinksis‘one of the tribe(Garcia, 2008). With this, Garcia may have

unconsciously positionedswardspeak under a major, acceptable and accepted language when he added

that it is“less an actual language”; thereby solidifying the very structure of oppressionthat thelanguage

is trying to dismantle. On the contrary, quite on the rise recently is the usage of words in many

differentlists gay terms along with its meanings, some with etymologies. Aside from this, the owner of

the account has also uploaded videos in Youtube(bernjosep), starting three years ago, with a couple of

them breaching the 100,000hitsmark. Aside from these, the Filipino gay individual has taken steps to

celebratehiscoming out by recreating himself or his works in the virtual world. Bloggers abound, many

of them becoming “avenues for a more entertaining discussion on gayspeak. Thesebloggers are

gatekeepers and progenitors of gayspeak; they maintain the sanctityof theirown craft … as well as

contribute to the development of this language” (Casabal, 2008). The Filipino gay rhetoric, from being

a common tongue among many parloristasand baklang halimaw or tarat, has been slowly introduced

into mainstreamFilipinousagethrough different media. It has successfully, though not completely,

hurdled wavesofdiscrimination. It has transformed from one medium of communication to another,

abletoadapt to challenges technologies have ushered us in. With Bekimon and other sites, professing’

and using it online for various purposes, in different platforms, swardspeakis here to stay – everything

that ever was - available forever (Catacutan, 2012). Swardspeak uses the elements from Tagalog,
English, Spanish, and somefromJapanese, as well as celebrities' names and trademark brands, giving

themnewmeaningsin different contexts. It is largely localized within gay communities, making use of

wordsderived from the local languages or dialects, including Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray,

andBicolano (Salao, 2010). A defining trait of swardspeak slang is that it more often than not

immediatelyidentifies the speaker as homosexual, making it easy for people of that

orientationtorecognize each other. This creates an exclusive group among its speakers and helps

themresist culturalassimilation. More recently, though, even non-members of gay communityuse this

way of speaking, particularly heterosexual members of industries dominatedbygays, such as the

fashion and film industries. By using swardspeak, Filipino gays are able to resist the dominant culture

of theirarea and create a space of their own. The language is constantly changing, withtheoldphrases

becoming obsolete and new phrases frequently entering everyday use, reflectingchanges in their

culture and also maintaining exclusivity. The dynamic nature of thelanguage refuses to cement itself

in a single culture and allows for more freedomofexpression among its speakers. Words and phrases

can be created to react topopulartrends and create alternatives to the strictly defined lifestyle. By these

characteristics, swardspeak creates a dissident group without any ties to the geographical, linguistic,

orcultural restrictions, thus allowing its speakers to shape the language as appropriatetothetimes. In

this way, the languages are not only “mobile” and part of a larger community, but also open to more

specific or local meanings. (Sunguitan, 2010)

Definition of Gay Lingo According to Cage (2012, p.23), gay language is defined as a particular register

or variety of language that is employed in certain socio-cultural contexts by gay people. That is to say,

this kind of language has its narrow use in some situations and contexts but in others involving “the

social system of the gay co-culture”. Red (2012, p.41) defines gay language as a type of code used in

the gay community for the purpose of preventing people from outside the group (herein refers to

heterosexuals) making sense of it and helping link them in “their own discourse”. This definition calls

our attention to “anti-language” by Halliday (2013, p.570) which is “a special form of language

generated by some kind of antisociety”. This anti language uses words and expressions with additions

and alterations in meaning aiming at creating and retaining its identity (Cage, 2012, p.25) Language

and Gay Lingo Language, more than anything

else, is what makes us human. The unique power of language to represent and share unbounded

thoughts is critical to all human societies, and has played a central role in the rise of our species in the
last million years from a minor and peripheral member of the sub Saharan African ecological

community to the dominant species on the planet today (W.

Tecumseh Fitch, 2010). The evolution of human language is one of the most important and interesting

evolutionary events in the history of life on our planet

(Maynard Smith and Szathma´ ry 2013; Nowak et al. 2012) The dynamic nature of th language refuses

to isolate itself to a single culture and allow for more freedom in expression among its speakers.

(Filipino gay lingo, 2008) Language will remains as the most important aspect of intercultural and

transcultural communication. It also guides the intergenerational and transgenerational production

and reproduction of knowledge, norms and values (Downes, 2012; SkutnabbKangas, 2013) The

Philippines is a country

characterized with 182 living languages and 4 extinct ones. This highlights the growing need for

language research and sociolects are no exception. To be understood by all, a translator can aid non-

speakers of the sociolect and applications are not only limited to communication and research. We

present our work on developing a rule based translator for Beki speak a well known sociolect in the

country used primarily by gays (Ponce, 2011). Knowledge with Gay Lingo A gay lingo has no actual

past present, present and future tenses for verbs, comparatives and superlative forms for adjectives

and it doesn’t follow subject-verb agreement. (Gianan, 2012). Gayspeak or“swardspeak” uses elements

from Tagalog, English, Spanish, and some from Japanese, as well as celebrities' names and trademark

brands, giving them new meanings in different contexts. It is largely localized within gay

communities, making use of words derived from the local languages or

dialects, including Cebuano, Electronic copy available at: Hiligaynon, Waray, Bicolano, and

otherplaces (Hudson, 2010: Badingtionary,2010) and by using swardspeak, Filipino gays are able to

resist the dominant culture of their area and create a space of their own. The language is constantly

changing, with old phrases becoming obsolete and new phrases frequently entering everyday usage,

reflecting changes in their culture and also maintaining exclusivity. (Garcia, 2014)

Functions of Gay Lingo

Language serves different and special functions. It serves to express social and personal

relations , to represent an experience, to impart factual information, to control the behavior of

others , to get involved in fantasies, and to show one’s identity

The implications of the use of these gay lingos show the gays’ way of integrating themselves

in the society in their own terms, making serious as satirized or light and makes the language

as an act of subversion.

The following were the conclusions after which findings of the study were formulated:

A. On Functions of Gay Lingo

Gay Lingos function as a cover up and a tool to keep up with the modern trends, a

representation of a sub-culture, and a reflection of the environment of a person. They are

used socially and are used for interaction. They reflect their self-identity, presents their

experience, impart factual information, and control the behaviour of others.

B. On circumstances that allow Filipino teenagers to use gay lingo as word substitutes during

conversations

The circumstances that allow Filipino teenagers to use gay lingos as word substitute are as

follows: They use the word substitute in circumstances that require them to replace vulgar

words so as not to hurt feelings of others, in circumstances where taboo issues such as sexual

misdemeanour confronts them to isolate themselves, and on circumstances that need their

satirical front/selves in public entertainment.

C. On projection of social identity

Projections of social identity had been categorized in the transcript. The use of gay lingos

socially identifies them as creative individuals. Gay lingos also socially labelled them as

closeted individuals. Gay lingos socially constructed gay men as closeted yet creative

individuals. Gay Lingo as Reflection of Social Identify was anchored on the different theories

related to language acquisition such as Queer Theory, Sociolinguistics and Social Identity

Theory. In this study, the findings from FGD had provided directions for further

understanding of the significant impact of the participation of participants. When it comes to

the functions of gay lingo, the gay lingos were used as a cover up and a tool to keep up with

the modern trends.On circumstances that allow Filipino teenagers to use gay lingos as word

substitutes during conversations, they use the word substitute in circumstances that require
them to replace vulgar words so as not to hurt feelings of others, in circumstances where

taboo issues such as sexual misdemeanour confronts them to isolate themselves, and in

circumstances that need their satirical front/selves in public entertainment. On projection of

social identity, gay lingos socially construct gay men as closeted yet creative individuals.

Overall, the Gay Lingo As Reflection of Social Identify has proven to be meaningful venue for

language instructors to be aware of the strength and weaknesses of this particular group of

students when it comes to the identity that they are projecting not only in school but also in

the community where they belong which would allow them to use gay lingos as word

substitutes and be responsible for the kind of words that they are using during conversation.