Prof. Romano Redublo
Via Facebook
Re: Questions for a Sociolinguistics Paper
Hi RR.
I consider it a great privilege that you agreed to be a respondent for my Sociolinguistics Research Paper entitled “The Third Sex: Locating Identity in Language.”
The questions are at the end of this letter. The first 3 questions are especially important for you to answer . The rest depends if you have something to share. Also, please indicate if you want me to identify you. If not, I’ll just give you an alias (e.g, Roman, a college professor of Filipino).
Please send your answers to my Facebook account or to my email address (riccibarrios@gmail.com)
on or before Aug. 22, 2011.
Thank you in advance for giving some of your precious time.
Truly yours,
ROSARIO “RICCI” F. BARRIOS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
QUESTIONS:
1. Did learning/speaking gay language help you establish your identity as a member of the Third Sex?
Please tell us how, by way of an anecdote/situation.
2. In your opinion, what is the role of gay language in communicating …
(a) with members of the Third Sex?
(b) with straight people?
(c) Please cite example/anecdote for (a) & (b) above.
3. Has gay language evolved from the time you first learned/spoke it and now, at the present time?
Please give an example, using this format:
“Tienes”(year 1980) means __________________________________ .
Use in a Sentence: __________________________________________
Translation in straight language: _______________________________
4. Is the above word/s still being used now? Or has it been replaced by another, newer gay language?
Please write down this new word/s, and use it in a sentence.
“new word” (year ____ ) means _________________________________ .
Use in a Sentence: __________________________________________ .
Translation in straight language: _______________________________ .
5. Please write a sentence or two about yourself or any subject of your choice using gay language.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ .
(a) Translation in straight language:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ .
(b) What is the name of this variety of gay language? _____________________________
6. Are you familiar with a variety of gay language called Bekimon?
If you answered ‘Yes,’ please tell us if you like using Bekimon or not. Why/why not?
--Nothing follows--
******************************************************************************************
Here are my answers:
- If the phrase “establish your identity” means “to present/ introduce yourself” , I could say that: NO, speaking gay language doesn’t help me present myself as a member of the third sex community. I really am not that into using gay jargons, maybe because of the nature of my work. But, I do enjoy talking to my friends using gay lingos once in a while- just for fun.
2. When having a conversation to a new colleague or an acquaintance, who could be a possible friend in the long run---I only use “normal-colloquial language”. In my opinion, the usage of gay jargons should only be limited with your closest friends and family members. Not that I am hiding in the closet, don’t get me wrong. I am very open with my sexuality/ sexual preference. It is just that I don’t want to be so vocal and obvious about it.
A. Gay language in communicating with the members of the Third Sex is a mere form of expression---expressing themselves in their own unique way. It also shows their linguistic creativity in terms of coming up with new terminologies every so often.
B. For straight people, using gay language is just for fun. When I hear a heterosexual talking in gay language, I presume that he/she is just doing that for enjoyment.
3. Has gay language evolved over the past years?
Definitely.
Let us look at the usage of the word “Bading” for example:
***“Bading” (1990, not quite sure with the year.)
-means gay man or homosexual
***Marami na ring mga tagongbading ang pumapasok sa militar at sa simbahan.
***Marami na ring di lantad na bakla ang pumapasok sa militar at sa simbahan.
***Though the word “Bading” is still being used by homosexual (even straight people) up to now, many variations have emerged.
4. Like what I mentioned, because of the creativity of the Pinoy Gays and the huge influence of Popular (Pop) Culture here in our country, language dynamism is becoming more and more rapid. Our national language, our regional dialects, colloquial and technical terminologies, literature and rhetorical devices, and even the different sociolects are undergoing fast transformation.
Although the word “Bading” is still very much present in the “Pinoy Pop Gay Vocabulary”, our “Kapatids” have managed to coin words pertaining to homosexuality:
- Vakla
- Vaklush/Baklush
- Badet
- Backless
- Vaklushi
- Beki
5. *** Ang daming mga beking gumagala sa Gateway!
*** Ang daming baklaang gumagala sa Gateway!
a. ***Dahil kulang ang adeza, may mga beking nagtitiyaga na lang sa mga otokong twinkle langang price. (gay speak)
b. ***Dahil kapos sa pera, may mga baklang nagtityaga na lang sa mga lalaking nagseserbisyo sa halagang dalawampung piso/ beinte pesos/ twenty pesos. (straight speak)
c. I am not quite sure what variety of gay language is this.
6. Yes, I am familiar with the variety of gay language called Bekimon.
I have nothing againstBekimon speakers, but I personally don’t like their social dialect. Bekimon, if I am not mistaken, is a combination of Jejemon(another sociolect that emerged due to Filipino’s too much “passion” with texting) and Gay Jargons. I neither use Jejemon nor speak Gay that often. And for yours truly, Bekimon is way too vulgar than a “regular gay language”.
