Queer as Folk - Representation of Gay Language in Popular Culture

Abstract

This study investigates how gay vocabulary and code-switching is portrayed in the North American television series Queer as Folk. The search for gay vocabulary was conducted through viewing the entire series searching for words and expressions documented in previous research. The gay vocabulary contains many sexual terms and references and the lexicon are ambiguous depending on user and addressee and can be used as markers of solidarity or as derogation. The most important results are that gay speech is self-managed and used as an identity marker for both homosexual and heterosexual members of the in-group. Gay men seem to be well aware of their speech and mannerisms and code-switch depending on context