Gay Lingo in the Philippine
CHAPTER I
RESEARCH PROBLEM
1.1 Historical and Conceptual Background
1.2.1 Historical Background
Filipino gay language or swardspeak language is a vernacular language derived from Englog (English- Tagalog) and is used by a number of gay Filipinos. It uses elements from Tagalong, English, Spanish, Niponggo, from celebrities’ names and signature brands hat giving a new context of this unique language. A unique trait of swardspeak is that it immediately identifies the speaker as homosexual, making it easy for people of that orientation to signal each other in a place where such tendencies are not easy to display in the Philippines. This creates an exclusive world among its speakers and helps them to resist cultural assimilation. (www.ncca.gov.ph, 2006)
By using swardspeak or gay lingo Filipino gays are able to resist dominant culture of their area and create a space for 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. The dynamic nature of the language refers to cement itself in single culture allows for more freedom in expression among its speakers. Words and phrases can be created out of reaction to popular trends and creates alternatives to a strictly defined lifestyle. By these, characteristics, swardspeak creates a dissident group without any ties to geographical, linguistic, or cultural restrictions, allowing its speaker to shape the language as appropriate to the times. In this way, the language is “mobile”, and is simultaneously part of a larger community but also open to more specific or local meanings. (www.sunstar.com.ph, 2012)
“Gay lingo, is a set of vocabulary words which was invented mostly by gay men and is now used mostly by Filipinos whether if they are gay or not. They created by omitting some parts of the original words and replacing them with terms which can be English, Tgaalog,
RESEARCH PROBLEM
1.1 Historical and Conceptual Background
1.2.1 Historical Background
Filipino gay language or swardspeak language is a vernacular language derived from Englog (English- Tagalog) and is used by a number of gay Filipinos. It uses elements from Tagalong, English, Spanish, Niponggo, from celebrities’ names and signature brands hat giving a new context of this unique language. A unique trait of swardspeak is that it immediately identifies the speaker as homosexual, making it easy for people of that orientation to signal each other in a place where such tendencies are not easy to display in the Philippines. This creates an exclusive world among its speakers and helps them to resist cultural assimilation. (www.ncca.gov.ph, 2006)
By using swardspeak or gay lingo Filipino gays are able to resist dominant culture of their area and create a space for 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. The dynamic nature of the language refers to cement itself in single culture allows for more freedom in expression among its speakers. Words and phrases can be created out of reaction to popular trends and creates alternatives to a strictly defined lifestyle. By these, characteristics, swardspeak creates a dissident group without any ties to geographical, linguistic, or cultural restrictions, allowing its speaker to shape the language as appropriate to the times. In this way, the language is “mobile”, and is simultaneously part of a larger community but also open to more specific or local meanings. (www.sunstar.com.ph, 2012)
“Gay lingo, is a set of vocabulary words which was invented mostly by gay men and is now used mostly by Filipinos whether if they are gay or not. They created by omitting some parts of the original words and replacing them with terms which can be English, Tgaalog,