i

"THE EFFECTS OF USING GAY LINGO AS ACCEPTED

LANGUAGE OF LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY IN THE SISTERS

OF MARY SCHOOL, CAVITE"

by

Judy Mae P. Batul

B.S. in Accountancy, PUP A.C

A Research Paper

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

Purposive Communication

Professor Jess Costales

PUP A.C

September 08, 2021

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RESEARCH PAPER APPROVAL

"THE EFFECTS OF USING GAY LINGO AS ACCEPTED

LANGUAGE OF LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY IN THE SISTERS

OF MARY SCHOOL, CAVITE”

By

Judy Mae P. Batul

A Research Paper Submitted

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for

the Purposive Communication

Approved by:

Professor Jess Costales, MC

August 25, 2021

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ABSTRACT

This research was conducted to determine the effect of gay lingo as an accepted language

in the Sisters of Mary School, Silang Cavite and it’s the factor of gay lingo that affects them. The

researcher selected 19 graduate students of the Sisters of Mary School S.Y. 2019-2020 as the

respondent. The said study used descriptive research as the design and used survery

questionnaire to gather information. Based on the gathered data, the result that affects the

students in the Sisters of Mary School to learn gay lingo are their friends who belong to

LGBTQIA+ community. They find gay lingo fun to hear. The researcher also conclude that in

the Sisters of Mary gay lingo has been use as an expression. Gay lingo is used when talking with

their acquaintances especially when the topic is too interesting. It is also being used as a way of

communication at their home.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The researcher would like to express deep gratitude to the following individuals for helping

throughout this research:

God, who never gets tired of giving guidance and strength, which would not be able to

complete this research without His help.

Lhet and George, parents, for their unwavering support. Providing everything needed to

do this research and being an inspiration to the researcher.

Princess and Emmanuel, siblings, for always being there to keep accompany.

Ms. Jess Costales, MC., Purposive Communication professor, research adviser, and panel

member, who generously donated her time to help the researcher conduct a thorough

investigation. Providing feedbacks and suggestions in order to produce a legitimate and

dependable outcome.

Respondents, that volunteered their time to fill out the questionnaire and worked together

to complete the study. Without them, this research will not be fulfilled.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

When interacting with others, Filipinos utilize both formal and casual terms. Academics

and other intellectual environments frequently utilize formal terms. These terms can be found in

dictionaries since they have been investigated and accepted by language experts. Casual terms,

on the other hand, are widely employed in conversing and writing to friends and acquaintances.

“Gay lingo” or “Swardspeak” is of the examples of it.

Gay lingo is a type of slang that incorporates components from Tagalog, English,

Spanish, and Japanese, as well as celebrity names and trademark brands, to give them new

meanings in various situations. It is mostly restricted to LGBT communities, with terminology

drawn from local languages or dialects such as Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Bicolano, and

others (Hudson, 1987). Gay Lingo, according to B. Red (2012, p.41), is a form of code used in

the gay community for the purpose of communication prohibiting outsiders from entering a gang

(herein refers to heterosexuals) making sense of it and assisting in the connection in the context

of "their own discourse".

According to Camali, et al. (2016), 7 out of 18 people claimed Gay Lingo affects their

apprehension of English words. It makes them difficult to grasp the terms because the gay

language offers them a distinct meaning than the English words itself.

From the study of Ramon, it found out that LGBTQIA+ people do not use homosexual

language in communicating to their family. It is claimed using of heterosexual language assisted

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in reducing their uncertainty by explaining things to them in a way that they could comprehend,

thereby opening the door for additional discussion, if desired, to answer any questions they may

have concerning homosexuality. Through this, the family can learn homosexual lifestyle.

From the finding of the research of Rubiales (2020), implications on the use of

swardspeak offer LGBTQI+ students an identity, allowing them to express themselves, provide

exclusive space through concealment, and establish a comfortable zone through their language.

The purpose of this study was to learn how the LGBTQIA+ community influences the

Sisters of Mary School pupils' use of homosexual jargon and the effects of gay lingo on them.

The primary goal of this study is to determine the Effect of Using Gay Lingo as an Accepted

Language of the LGBTQIA+ Community in the Sisters of Mary School, Cavite. Specifically,

this study sought to answer the following questions: 1. What are the factors that affecting the

respondents to use gay lingo. 3. How does Gay lingo affects them in their everyday living? 4.

Does Gay Lingo has positive impact to them?

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter proffers the related literature and studies that the researcher foraged in books

and internet. The literature and studies cited in this chapter includes the ideas, concepts,

generalization, conclusions, and more. This will act as a guide for the researcher while

constructing the study. Furthermore, the information in this chapter aids in familiarizing

elements that are relevant and related to the current research.

Gay Lingo

The baklese, also known as gay language, is one of the most dynamic yet informal

language models ever to evolve in the Philippines, according to Marquez (Philippine Star,

September 9, 2012). It is influence by Spanish and English loan words. Gay language can be

easily created, but it can also evaporate quickly. Ong (2018) stated, gay language is always

changing, thus it cannot be written and used in a textbook; and there are only a few possibilities

for it to be incorporated into the national language. When Jose Javier Reyes published

“Swardspeak: A preliminary study” in 1970, gay language became known as Swardspeak. In

the same year, the LGBT language in the Philippines gained widespread recognition and

became a translator for a variety of languages. (Dela Rosa, 2016)

Red (2012, p.41) defines gay language as a form of code employed in the homosexual

community to prevent the heterosexual community from understanding it and connecting them in
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"their own discourse." Same goes to what Professor Beth Calinawagan of the UP Department of

Linguistics in Diliman said that Gay lingo was used as their secret code because LGBTQIA+

community is not yet that accepted by the people. (Opiña, “Experts trace origins and evolution of

gay language”) They would shout “Jullie, Jullie Yap Daza” whenever a policeman came in the

Mehan Gardens where they do casual sex, in the year 1980’s. Jullie Yap Daza is a famous

newspaper editor, television talk-show host, and the author of Etiquette for Mistresses. Behind

the word “Julie” is “huli”, which means “to get caught.”

The Gay lingo had influenced already the language of the society. It can be hear

everywhere for it is being used on televisions, on the streets, in schools and offices, even in

homilies of some priests. As two shows about gay lingo was first aired on GMA network,

Giovanni Calvo’s Katok mga Misis and Out, explaining the meanings and etymologies of gay

terms. Through the use of mass media, gay lingo has gotten attention by the public. Vice Ganda

also influenced the nation with the use of gay lingo (Racoma, 2013). The number of

terminologies produced out by swardspeakers has grown to the point that practically every word

has an equal or derivation. Swardspeak is "continuously modified," according to Remoto ("On

Philippine homosexual slang").

Language and Gay Lingo

Language is essential in communication. It helps us understand each other of what we

want to say. It is what differentiates us from animal. The unique ability of language to represent

and share unbounded thoughts is critical to all human societies, and it has played a critical role in

our species' rise over 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.
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Tecumseh Fitch, 2010). As for Barber, the most remarkable tool invented is that makes all other

possible. (Drakakis & Liebler, 2014) There are about 6,500 languages that makes the world

diverse and beautiful place and 182 of that belongs to Philippines’ living languages and 4 extinct

ones.

While the Filipino language has remained in its embryonic stage, plagued by

controversies and trivialities, swardspeak has been an active language, being an amalgamation of

many different languages used across the country – balaychina from Visayan balay, jombagin

from Hiligaynon sumbagon1, and matud and daot from Sugbuhanon – and even from Asian

languages such as Nippongo otoko, and more. (Dela Rosa, 2016) The nature of language is

continuously changing, and gay language is not exempted. New words will be produced as

language evolves, while old terms will be dissolved. Current LGBTQIA+ terms may not survive

and be used for a long time since, in the next years, they may be replaced by the language of a

new community (Lunzaga, 2011). The variety and depth of the collection of terminology

collected and used to produce the pool of swardspeak is as diverse as Filipinos' native tongue.

(Dela Rosa, 2016) It doesn't follow any structure rules. The modifications are purposeful, in sync

with the times, and use current trends, what's in, and hip to generate words and phrases that

mimic foreign languages such as German, Japanese, Chinese, French, and Spanish in certain

ways. Swardspeak is a living, breathing language, and new terms are always being added to the

lexicon, while old ones are being phased out. (Racoma, 2013)

Gender and Gay Lingo

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Language, as a component of culture, can be used by the society to perpetuate gender

inequality. According to Nguyen (2014), sexist language and language discrimination are

significant concerns that occur in all languages and must be addressed in order to transform

society's sexist beliefs, resulting in men and women being treated equally in language and in all

aspects of society. Because of inequality where gays and their way of life are frequently insulted,

they form words that they can only understand and used it as a code. To support this statement,

from the result of the study of “Sward Speak (Gay Lingo) in the Philippines Context: A

Morphological Analysis”, it is stated there that LGBTQIA+ community created gay lingo is “to

become unique/different from other people, to serve as their identity, to belong or accepted in a

group, to give them pleasure, and to make them inventive.”

Many LGBTQIA+ terms have been introduced and spoken by ordinary people since

Taglish reached the masses in the 1960s, according to Remoto (2008). Years after, Vice Ganda

also influenced the nation with the use of gay lingo (Racoma, 2013). Until, gay lingo was widely

accepted by the heterosexual community. From being a popular speech among numerous

parloristas and baklang halimaw or tarat, Filipino homosexual rhetoric has gradually been

pushed into mainstream Filipino use through various media since 2004. It's not unusual to hear

straight men and women in the entertainment and fashion sectors use homosexual slang.

Heterosexuals unconsciously used some gay words such as anech which means “what” in

English. It is showed in the result of the study “Usage of Gay Lingo Among Millenials as a Way

of Communication” is that women are more engaged with gay people compared to men. It shows

only that women are more open to homosexuality.

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Influence of Gay Lingo

Gay lingo, in 1970, has become a mediator among all the languages in the Philippines. As

time passes, new trends, personalities, and terminology arise, rendering some swardspeak words

outdated. It has successfully navigated waves of prejudice, albeit not entirely. This mode of

expression has spread around the world, able to move from spoken to written and now to

hypertext.

From the study of “Usage of Gay Lingo among Millenials as a Way of Communicating”,

there is a high level of influence of the homosexual people and most of them adapt it from

school. Most of the heterosexual people affected are those who are close friends with the

homosexual people. It is showed that there is really a high impact of gay lingo among the

millenials for it makes them happy and has a positive impact to them. Furthermore, it helps them

communicate with homosexual people and changes their perspectives towards them.

As gay lingo begins to flourish since 1970, it has being used in TV shows and in tabloids.

Gay lingo words are visible in social media sites. Youtube, as a platform of spreading gay terms

by Bern Josep. He became the first internet sensation in the Philippines for making us of gay

lingo in everyday conversation. There are a lot of bloggers out there, and many of them are

turning into "avenues for a more amusing conversation on gayspeak." These bloggers are

gayspeak's guardians and progenitors; they uphold the integrity of their own art while also

contributing to the language's evolution” (Casabal, 80). Swardspeak is here to stay, with

Bekimon and other sites ‘professing' and employing it online for various purposes, on multiple

platforms, everything that ever was – available forever. (Catacutan, 2012)

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CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY
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This chapter provides information on what researcher did in order to get data for the

study. In this chapter, it shows the research locale, informants, design used, instrument of

collecting data, data gathering procedure, and analysis of date.

Research Locale

This study was conducted at the Sisters of Mary School, Silang Cavite. Sisters of May

School is a stay-in school where students came from different places around Luzon. The

researcher chose Sisters of Mary for the reason of LGBTQIA+ community is accepted to them.

The selected students are willing to cooperate in the conduct of the study.

Informants

The informants were from the students who graduated from the school year 2019-2020 of

the Sisters of Mary School, Silang Cavite. The researcher selected 20 straight students. They

were selected purposely since the primary focus of the study is about the effects of gay lingo to

since they are opened with the LBGTQIA+ community. They can tell the reasons accurately on

what would be the effects of it to them.

Research Design
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The descriptive research was used by the researcher for this study. The research used this

kind of design to gather information related to the topic and describe of what has been happening

It is also dealt with the process of determining the factors that affects the respondents from the

Sisters of Mary School, Silang Cavite and the effects of gay lingo to them.

Instrumentation

The researcher used survey questionnaire as instrument for this study to collect data from

the respondents that will be used for this study. Survey questionnaire suits in the current situation

of the year that this study happened for the reason of pandemic. The survey questionnaire

include the demographic profile of the respondents such as age and gender, explanation of what

is their insight about gay lingo, their relation with the LGBTQIA+ people whom they have heard

speaking gay lingo, the common gay lingo words that they know, and lastly is the impact of gay

lingo to them.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher messaged the respondents who were willing to cooperate with the study

the survey questionnaires via messenger. The researcher showed some examples in the

questionnaire to make it clear for them. As it was given to them, it was answered on the same

day. It has taken about 3 days to complete the answers of the respondents for the reason of the

other tasks to do and no load. By the answers of the selected graduated students from the survey
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questionnaire that they have responded, the researcher will analyze the data gathered and make it

as the basis and foundation to get the objectives of the study.

Analysis of the Data

After gathering the needed data from the survey questionnaires, the researcher analyze

the information received from the respondents. According Mulaudzi (2016), “qualitative data

should be analyzed primarily in an inductive manner which involves organizing data categories

and identifying patterns among the categories.” And so, the researcher understand the answers

and then gathered the information needed. It was then transferred to a different document and

was organized by its data categories. Data were presented in narrative form bearing the detailed

information on what are the effects of using gay lingo as an accepted language of LGBTQIA+

community in the Sisters of Mary Schoool, Silang Cavite.

CHAPTER 4
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RESULT AND DISCUSSION

This chapter discusses the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data from 19 survey

questionnaires completed by selected graduate students of the Sisters of Mary School, Silang

Cavite S.Y. 2019-2021. The purpose of the study is to identify the factors affecting homosexual

to use gay lingo and its effects to them.

The chart shown below is the result of the demographic profile of the respondents.

Table 1. Percentage of respondent’s age

Table 2. Percentage of respondent’s gender

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From the result of the demographic profile of the respondents, it is only ranging from 18

to 19 years of age who answered the survey questionnaire. It is shown that the age of 19 has the

highest percentage among the respondents and the age of 18 as the second. The least percentage

of respondent’s age who answered is 20. On the other hand, the dominant gender of the

respondents is female having the percentage of 68.4 while the remaining percentage of 31.6

belongs to male.

Table 3. Respondent’s relation with whom they’ve heard gay lingo

In the graph above, it illustrates their relation to the LBGTQIA+ who influences the

respondents. The result shows that the highest percentage who influences gay lingo to the

graduate students of the Sisters of Mary School S.Y. 2019-2020 is their friends.

Insight to the LGBTQIA+ People who Speaks Gay Lingo

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The common answers of the respondents on the second question about the LGBTQIA+

people who speak gay lingo are they find it fun. Respondent number 19 said, “I'm happy because

they find a way for them to express their ideas and opinions to their fellows within the

community they belong. The second from the highest vote is that they find it weird. According to

respondent number 17, “Hearing them say those words irritates me.” While the rest answered

that it is fine to them because they have respect to those who belong to the LGBTQIA+

community.

Table 4. “What gay lingo words do you know?”

In the table shown above, the usual answers of gay lingo words that they know are stated

respectively: jowa with 20 percent, chaka with 16.7 percent, mudrakel with 13.3 percent, awra

and charot with 10 percent, gora and pudrakel with 6.7 percent. While the remaining words such

as beshie, tegi, itech, pak ganern, junakis, majubis, kalerki, shutay, and jontis are with 3.3

percent.
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Table 5. “Do you use gay lingo?”

Table 3 shows that 68.4 percent of the respondents use gay lingo. While the 26.3 percent ,

those are the respondents who do not use gay lingo. The remaining percentage belongs to the

respondent who said not quite.

The respondents who said yes that they use gay lingo were asked a follow-up question.

They were asked when do they use this gay lingo word. Based on the information gathered, they

mostly use it when talking with their acquaintances. Following, when they are talking to a person

who belongs to LGBTQIA+ community. Some answered that it has been their expression already

and others said that they have brought it at their home when communicating.
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CHAPTER 5

FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Findings

1. Most of the participants are 19 years old with 9 respondents, followed by 18 years old

with 8 respondents, and 20 years old with 2 respondents. Most of the respondents are

female with the percentage of 68.4 while men are with the percentage of 31.6.

2. The highest number of counts that influences the respondents in learning gay lingo is

their friends with 12 answers. While others learned from their batchmates and classmates

with the same number of counts of 7.

3. The common gay lingo words that the respondents know are jowa with 20 percent, chaka

with 16.7 percent, mudrakel with 13.3 percent, awra and charot with 10 percent, gora and

pudrakel with 6.7 percent. While the remaining words such as beshie, tegi, itech, pak

ganern, junakis, majubis, kalerki, shutay, and jontis are with 3.3 percent.

4. Based on the final result, most of the homosexual participants said that they also use gay

lingo with the percentage of 68.4. While there are 26.3 percent of the homosexual

participants who said that they do not use gay lingo. The remaining percentage of 5.3 said

not quite.

5. From the participants who answered yes, they use gay lingo whenever they are having a

casual conversation with their acquaintances has the highest number of answers with 9.

Talking to a person who belongs to LGBTQIA+ community has the second most number
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of answers with 3. Gay lingo as their way of expression and being used as their way of

communication at home has the least number of answers.

Conclusion

1. Researcher concludes that gay lingo has a great impact to the Sisters of Mary School

students in their way of communication with their friends and at home. They have

adapted gay lingo as their way of expression. There are still some who find gay lingo

weird.

2. Friends who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community are those who influence them in

learning gay lingo.

3. Researcher determined that gay lingo has a positive impact to the Sisters of Mary

School, Silang Cavite.

Recommendation

1. For the people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community, do not be shy to show

your true colors. There are many people who accept of what and who you are. Keep

on shining and influencing other people. This could be source to defend yourselves.

2. For heterosexual people who wants to know about the LGBTQIA+. This study would

be a great help in gaining information.

3. For students who want to know more about gay lingo. This research could be a basis

for learning.
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4. This study could be a source of information to the teachers who will discuss about

gay lingo.

5. This study is credible and legitimate to utilize for future researchers with the same

study as the researchers had for reviewing related material for their investigation.
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REFERENCES

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lingo/

Anonymous (2019). Bekimon passes LET, shares struggle with depression and mom’s death to

inspire others. Retrieved from https://www.thesummitexpress.com/2019/05/bekimon

passes-let-shares-struggle-depression-mom-death-inspire-others.html

Anonymous (n.d.). Chapter II Review of Related Literature. Retrieved from

http://digilib.uinsby.ac.id/762/5/Bab%202.pdf

Camalig, S.C. &Concepcion, J.L. (2016). Effects of Gay language in understanding the meaning

of English words. Taytay United Methodist Christian School Inc.

Dela Rosa, J.M, (2016, May). “Gay Speak: Morphological Characteristics of Queer Language in

a State University”. ACADEMIA. Retrieved on (September 14, 2019). Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/25366000

Papua, A.J., Estigoy, M.A., & Varga, D., (2021). Usage of Gay Lingo Among Millenials as a

Way of Communicating. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?

abstract_id=3794691

Pascual, G. R. (2016). Sward Speak (Gaylingo) in the Philippine Context: A morphological

Analysis. International Journal of Advanced Research in ISSN: 2278-6236 Management

and Social Sciences, 5(12), https://garph.co.uk/IJARMSS/Dec2016/4.pdf.

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Ramon (n.d.). GL Language and Its Affect on the Family. Retrieved from https://tamucc

ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/1969.6/398/Ramon_Thesis.pdf

Romero, R.M. (2019). Gay Lingo as Reflection of Social Identity. Retrieved from

https://eudl.eu/pdf/10.4108/eai.27-4 2019.2285374?

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Rubiales, J.A. (2020). Linguistic Deviations of Swardspeak and its Implication to Gay Students’

English Language Competencies. Retrieved from

https://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/dlc/bitstream/handle/10535/10789/RESEARCH%20PAPER

20-%20RUBIALES.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y