Approaches to Language and Sexuality

Abstract

In the previous chapter, it was shown that a sociocultural approach to language use may enable an understanding of identity as an interactional phenomenon. Through stance-taking in conversation, we are able to perform particular personae, which are given meaning due to their indexical relationships with broader ideological categories. This chapter explores Bucholtz and Hall’s claim that sexuality is ‘a relational and contextual socio-political phenomenon’ (2004: 506), a position which allows them to advocate theoretical approaches which use their proposed tactics of intersubjectivity and principles of sociocultural linguistics to investigate the relationship between language and sexuality. This chapter begins by introducing post-structuralist approaches to sexuality and examining its relationship with gender, before moving on to briefly review recent studies taking place within ‘queer linguistics’, particularly those concerning lesbian discourse and identity. In outlining some key aspects of lesbian culture, the chapter explains the ideological context of the Stomper group’s interaction before it moves on to provide a detailed critique of current debates within the area of language and sexuality.