Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY

College of Arts and Sciences
University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon 8710

Department of Languages and Literature

Word Formation of Gay Words of the students in Central Mindanao

University

Querol, Aladen D.
Ratilla, Briza Louise S

AB ELS 3

Department of Languages and Literature

College of Arts and Sciences

ELS 95 (Research Methods)

May 2023
INTRODUCTION

Gay language can be complicated. However, there are instances that gay

words/terms they have created follows certain patterns (e.g. reversal) that can be

easy to trace origins and meanings. As Gay lingo is commonly used by gays and

their friends, this manifests linguistic traits to create boundaries excluding non-

speakers and prevent them from interacting with its speakers (Rosales & Carretero,

2019). They created and used this language to express themselves with friends

whom they feel they have the freedom to express.

However, it causes language barrier to people around them who do not speak

the same language or use same words/terms. Linguistic characteristics make it

impossible for non-speakers to interact with its speakers (Rosales & Caraterro,

2019). With the conversation in mind made by gays, it makes their non-gay language

speaker friends or acquaintances exclude from the conversation and prevent them

from interacting with the gay language speakers.

This creates boundaries and distance from both gay and non-gay language

speakers which initiates division according to language spoken. It is also supported

by Rosales and Caraterro (2019) that the language is used in a social context to

cover up sexual topics, spread gossip, and elevate one’s status. With the restriction

information disclosure from a conversation and the language itself do not find middle

ground to discuss matters and connect to people. This secrecy of obvious interaction

may lead to conflict due to lack of communication and restrict of language

information. Non-speakers can break down barriers to communication by speaking

gay lingo (Rosales & Caraterro, 2019).

 Language, as a tool of communication, must be firstly known by both

communicators. This will let the two or more people involve in a current issue or

conversation to be well-informed, find conflict prevention and resolution, and peace

education. Also, with the need to study the word formation of Gay words, it is a very

first step of recognizing and validating their gender identity, gender orientation, and

sexual orientation as the main issue why LGBT have come up on creating their own

language and formed a community. By being aware of the meaning of their language

and validating them in a sense of belongingness through communication and culture.

Objectives of the Study

Generally, this study aims to determine the extent of the understanding of the

meaning of gay lingo (words/terms) by non-gay language speakers in Central

Mindanao University.

Specifically, this study aims to:

a. Determine the common gay words used by gay language speakers in their

daily communication.

b. Identify the meaning and word process of common gay words

c. Evaluate the extent of the understanding of non-gay language speakers on

Gay words/terms.
Theoretical Framework

This study is aligned with Burke’s identification theory which explains

identification as a process that is fundamental to being human and to communicating

(Tortogo, et al., 2021). He pointed out that the need to recognize individuals arises

from division as they are born and exist as biologically distinct beings. Thus, pursue

to identify, through communication, in order for them to overcome separateness.

Identification of additional variants of separation is the way to a unified society.

Lexical Morphology Theory, stated in the linguistic investigation of Cantina

(2020), is also used in this study. This categorizes the morphological structure into

various morphological features of Gay words/terms used by Gays in spoken

discourse. Cantina (2020) justified that the central motivation of this approach is that

there is a relationship between the way words are formed and the manner of

pronunciation of those words. This describes the morphological system in arbitrarily-

ordered position as morphology is expected to be layered. In a natural language,

affixes are attach to stems of words which, in turn, form stems of words that affixes

can attach to (Cantina, 2020). It is also stated that the ordering relations among

morphemes found in the complex and structured morphological systems described

for natural languages do conform to the predictions of the lexical morphology theory.

Additionally, Parker and Riley's theory of word formation supported this study

(Tortogo, et al., (2021). It describes the word formation of a word in a morphological

perspective as it aims to provide understanding and explanation on the meaning of

each morpheme, as a basic unit of meaning, constructed in a word to form a new

meaning (Tortogo, et al., 2021).

Conceptual framework

Independent variable Dependent variable

Common
Gay words

Word
Gay language formation
process

Extent of
Understanding
RELATED REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Morphological Analysis

The understanding of Gay language varies in morphological structure due to

its construction with no rules. This would be challenging to comprehend in a

spontaneous conversation. However, with the support of several studies, it can be at

least trace its origins and its meanings. Pascual, G. (2016) in the study entitled,

Sward Speak (Gay Lingo) In The Philippine Context: A Morphological Analysis,

evaluated the word order in the Philippines' sward language. Particularly, it identified

the gay slang used, its origin, and its motivations. The study was carried out using

the descriptive method. In the study, a total of 100 gay respondents were selected at

random. The information was gathered through an informal interview and a

questionnaire. Additionally, the library method was used to collect pertinent data and

literature to support the study's findings. Zorc and Celce-Murcia's strategies and

processes for creating Tagalog slang were used in the analysis. Gay people enjoy

playing with words a lot; However, unlike other languages, they derive or create

words using a method or strategy. They employ the following methods or strategies:

loanwords or borrowing, metathesis through syllable switching or complete reversal,

affixation, substitution, acronym, duplication or repetition, clipping/reduction,

blending, utilizing figures of speech (onomatopoeia and metaphor), mix-mix, and the

use of popular names or places. The gays' primary motivations for developing their

own language include the desire to distinguish themselves from other people, serve

as their identity, be a part of a group, have fun, and become more creative.

In another study entitled, Gay Argot: Beyond The Coded Words And

Meanings Of Lavender Lexicon, Cantina, J. (2020) asserted that Gay is a language

that is changing. Because of this, it needs to be documented for future generations.

It must be examined, particularly its morphology. The purpose of this study is to

examine the features and functions of language used by gay students and

employees in higher education institutions. The corpus only includes the Facebook

posts of 18 gay students and five faculty members at a Philippine university in

Zamboanga del Norte. The posts are copied and morphometrically analyzed. The

gays’ vocabulary or expressions are examined in terms of their structure and

meaning in this section. The gay terms are then categorized based on how they are

made. In order to determine the precise meanings of the terms “gay argot” and

“functions of these terms,” an informal interview with the respondents is carried out

via group chat. Gays use simple reversal, simple reversal with affixation, substitution,

letter insertion, clipping, clipping with affixation, clipping with repetition, straight word

with affixation, stylized reversal with affixation, proper names and common names,

sound association, image association, metathesis, and camp names to construct

their language, according to the corpus. The study concludes that homosexuals use

feminization, humor, metaphor, and secretive in-group communication as a shield

against the disapproving patriarchal society. Additionally, gay expressions are

informal, out of the ordinary, impolite, and sometimes taboo. The findings of this

linguistic study call for the creation of a monograph on gay argot that details the

process of developing the language, its meaning, etymology, and sentences that

make reference to heterosexuals.

Furthermore, in the study of Lunzaga, et al. (2011) entitled Morphological

Analysis of Gay’s Spoken Discourse, it focused on the morphological analysis of the

language of gays who were studying at SLSU-Tomas Oppus in SY 2009-2010.

Specifically, it identified the common vocabulary of local gays and the corresponding
meanings through a self-administered questionnaire and an informal conversation.

Based from the information provided by 20 purposively selected college gays, it was

learned that gay speak is simply an adaptation of the mainstream language like

English, Filipino, and Cebuano. For purposes of shielding from the chasms of the

heterosexuals, gays construct their language through simple reversal, syllabic

reversal, simple reversal with affixation, clipping with affixation, straight words with

affixation, and connotation through images. It was concluded that the spoken

discourse of college gays in the campus violates the rules of English grammar yet

used by gays for purposes of expressing themselves in a way unrecognizable by the

discriminating straight men in highly patriarchal society.

Morphological Analysis of Slang Words Spoken by Transgender Community

in Manado of Samola, et al. (2018) described slang words spoken by transgender

community in Manado, to describe the meaning and how they form the slang words.

This is a descriptive qualitative research. The data were taken from natural

conversation among transgenders and the data taken were in the form of oral

sentences. The source of data was transgender community in Manado city. The

results of the study shows that transgender slang words are formed by borrowing

words of foreign language or syllables of Indonesian language, using additional

deviated words with specific affixes, or changing of phonemes or into other common

words. Transgender community inserts the slang words into Manado Malay

language using Manado Malay language structure to form their utterances. They

sometimes use it as a secret code and show solidarity markers among their

community.

Additionally, words has also its background of creation. Word construction

links to several origins including its meanings. In the study of Donn & Hart (2015)
entitled Visayan Swardspeak: The Language of a Gay Community in the Philippines

conducted the study in Cebu City, Dumaguete City, and Negros Oriental having

Cebuano language spoken in all three places selected. In Cebu, they selected 10

informants composed of students, beauticians, and government employees ranging

the age from 20-32. The vocabularies from these ten informants passed it on to

twenty people to check argot variations and popularity. The argot is constantly

revised and recirculated again and again. In Dumaguete City, they used eight

informants the same in Negros Oriental and process the vocabularies in the same

manner. They used John Wolff’s A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan to check spelling

and meaning. The root words of the vocabulary with its meaning of the words and

phrases comes from Cebuano, Tagalog, and Spanish. Most of the Argot words and

phrases came from Spanish and Tagalog with over half of the roots words from

Spanish and English as the second largest source for words. Gay lingo is a language

created by Gay in different parts of the world especially Philippines. The creation of

such language varies heavily on the language, experience, and common interest

gays have to come up with a new gay word.

Society, as one of the factors that forms a person’s being, creates impact on

their language usage. Papua, et al. (2021), in the study of Usage Of Gay Lingo

Among Millenials As a Way of Communicating, identified factors influencing the

usage of gay lingo among millenials as a way of communicating. It also aimed to

determine the extent of utilization and the effects of using the gay lingo. Using a

descriptive type of research, the researcher gathered data from three different

schools in Umingan, Pangasinan, Philippines which are Umingan Central National

High School, Quezon Memorial Academy, and Immaculate Conception Catholic

School. A researcher made questionnaire was used in this study. The questionnaire
was composed of socio- demographic profile, Communication characteristics,

Factors influencing the usage of gay lingo, extent of utilization and effects of gay

lingo. Findings shows that the majority of the millennials are using the gay lingo as a

way of communicating. Also there is a weak negative significant relationship with

source of information and age whereas the age of the respondents increases the

source of information about gay lingo also decreases. Moreover, there is a weak

negative significant relationship with sex and the number of gay friends. It was found

that female are tend to friends with gays compared to male and it showed that

female are more open about homosexuals compared to men. In addition factors

influencing the usage of gay lingo among millennials as way of communication were

identified and one factor is school since a lot of gays are in school therefore the

influence of gays to millennials is high.

Language Variation of Gay Language

In order to emerge the similarities and differences of the Gay words to other

language, another study conducted with the title of Jokla and Jugels: A Comparative

Analysis of the construction of Popular and Hiligaynon Gay Words, Nuncio et Al.,

(2021) denoted that in gay studies, gay language has been a constant topic. Topics

discussed include how gay words and expressions are created through collocation

and code-mixing, as well as how gay native speakers use gay language to challenge

patriarchy and homophobia. By describing the various methods of gay language

construction through phonological resemblance, mutation, appropriation, and

association, this paper contributes to gay studies. The analysis compares and

contrasts existing studies on "popular" gay languages based on Filipino and English

with Hiligaynon. 116 well-known Hiligaynon gay words are compared and contrasted.

The similarities, differences, and construction and definitional patterns of these terms
are the subject of this paper. Through linguistic innovations like wordplay, reflexivity,

and contextuality, the study aims to improve comprehension and appreciation of gay

languages as they develop over time.

To put focus on comparison, another study conducted morphological analysis

in a regional variation. In the study entitled, Hiligaynon-visayan Gays’ Spoken

Discourse: A Morphological Analysis analyzed the morphological structure of

Hiligaynon-Visayan gay lingo, Tortogo, et al. (2021) utilized a self-administered

questionnaire that identified the common vocabulary of local gays. Based on the

data provided by 25 purposively selected gay college students and professionals of

Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, it revealed that gay lingo is just an adaptation

of the mainstream languages such as Hiligaynon-Visayan, English, and Filipino.

Findings show that Ilonggo gays construct their lexicon through clipping with

affixation, straight words with affixation, use of popular names, nativization of loan

words, cancellation, connotation through images, and using loan words with

corrupted denotation. In conclusion, the spoken discourse of Hiligaynon-Visayan

gays of CHMSC observes no structural rules, is constantly evolving, its changes are

deliberate and in tune with the times.

In a different variation of the same language, a study have conducted

analyzing Gay Words in a Stylistic variation of the same language. Romero, R.

(2019) in the study entitled, "Gay Lingo as Reflection of Social Identity” used Social

Identity Theory, Sociolinguistics by, Queer Theory, and Sociolinguistics as the study

frameworks. The quantitative approach and descriptive-qualitative design were

utilized. Interviews and group discussions formed the basis of the data. The

purposes of gay lingo, the circumstances that permit Filipino teenagers to use gay

lingo, and social identity projection were identified in the findings. According to the
findings of this study, language instructors at a college or university should be aware

of the creative gay men's strengths and weaknesses. In supported with, Stylistics

Variation: Understanding Gay Lingo in Social Perspectives. Stylistic variation

contributes heavily to the influence of language used and spoken. Gay language do

not base on a single location of language creation. These has various Gay language

variation in different places.

With its complexity, it is now even more challenging to learn Gay language in

a various variation with its word origins. Rosales and Careterro (2019), stated that it

has linguistic characteristics that make it impossible for non-speakers to interact with

its speakers. The purpose of this qualitative study was to ascertain the social

context, social perspectives, and background of gay lingo speakers by employing a

case study and discourse analysis through production task and elicitation. Data was

gathered from 12 (gay and non-gay) senior high school students and teachers in a

secondary school through semi-structured interviews and questionnaire surveys.

According to the findings of the study, the stylistic variation of gay lingo can be

found, among other things, in word coinage through phonological and morphological

transformations. Gay lingo is used in the social context to cover up sexual topics,

spread gossip, and elevate one's status. Non-gays can break down barriers to

communication by speaking gay lingo. Gays interpret language that refers to non-

gay people as affirmation. Studies on the effects of gay lingo on mainstream

language are also recommended, as are provocative studies of gay lingo.

METHODOLOGY

In this section, this research paper follows strategies for implementing the data.

With that, the following Research design, Sampling, Gathering procedure,

Respondent, and Instrument are being discussed below.

Research Design

This study seeks to analyze word formation process, and evaluate the

understanding of non-gay language speakers on Gay words/terms to non-gay

language speakers.

The research design for this research investigation is both qualitative and

quantitative. The qualitative approach is used to analyze the Gay words/terms and

their respective meaning and word formation. While a quantitative approach is used

to evaluate the percentage of the extent of the understanding of non-gay language

speakers on Gay words/terms.

Sampling Procedure

This research study used the purposive sampling to identify the gay language

speakers varying degrees of fluency in College of Arts and Sciences in Central

Mindanao University, located at Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon. The researcher used

this sampling because the interviewed gay language speakers can help to

recommend who are the other gay language speakers in the said location.

This study used a modified questionnaire It is composed of two parts. The first

part consists of the respondent profiles. The second part consists of a table with
three Columns; the first column requires them to put at least five common gay words

that they used in their daily communication. The second part of the column requires

them to put the meaning of gay words. The third column requires them to provide at

least one example using the gay word.

Respondents of the Study

This study involved 20 gays/allys college students who speak gay language

from the College of Arts and Sciences in Central Mindanao University, Musuan,

Maramag, Bukidnon, varying degrees of fluency. For data imposition to non-gay

language speakers, 30 respondents are involved. The non-gay language speakers

are the students from the College of Arts and Sciences, specifically who take the

Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies (third-year) in Central Mindanao

University, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will be analyzing the word formation process of Gay

words/terms and identify their meanings and formulation through survey.

The survey will be administered to 20 gays/alllys college students who speak

gay language in spoken discourse from different year levels, courses, within the

College of Arts and Sciences in Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Maramag,

Bukidnon. Afterwards, the researchers will give the questionnaire to the respondent

so that they will write down the common gay words, meaning, and its example.
 To gather the data from the 30 non-speakers of gay language, the

researchers are going to combine some of gay words to formulate a gay language

dialogue, and present them using tables with scales from strongly not understood to

strongly understood.

Research Instrument

The study used researcher-made and self-administered questionnaire in a

one-page questionnaire. This questionnaire is adopted from the study of Tortogo, et

al. (2021) as the data required and data analysis procedure is identical. First part is

the demographic profile of the respondents. The second part has three columns

requiring the respondents to provide Gay words/terms as they could and their

corresponding meaning and justification.

To evaluate the understanding of non-gay language speakers on gay

words/terms, questionnaire worksheets are used. The test is context-related. This

will help the researcher to evaluate if the non-speaker of gay language have

understood the usage of gay words/terms presented to them.

Data Analysis

Preliminary data analysis:

I. Common gay words used by gays in their daily communication

fooda, sleeping beauty, wheresang, Shoedi, Washington, DC, Shoedi, Lapfang,
Abas, motherbells, betnest, Toyotar, Fatherbells, hagardo versoza, Julanis
morissette, jinit Jackson, Gora.

II. Gay words Meaning and Justification/ formulation

A. Suffixation
Gay words Meaning in Bisaya Formulation
Fooda Gwapa Food + Suffix “a” = Fooda
Shoedi Dili Shoe + Suffix “di” = Shoedi
Toyotar Bayot Toyota + Suffix “r”=
Toyotar
Gora Sigina Go + Suffix “ra” = Gora

B. Using of Popular names

Gay words Meaning in Bisaya Justification
Sleeping Beauty Natulog Sleeping Beauty, is a fairy
tale about a princess
cursed by an evil fairy to
sleep for a hundred years
before being awakened by
a handsome prince.
Washington, D.C. Wala Washington, D.C., formally
the District of Columbia
and commonly known as
Washington or D.C., is the
capital city and federal
district of the United
States.
 C. Affixation + Popular names
Gay words Meaning in Bisaya Formulation
Jinit Jackson Init init + Affix “J” + Popular
name “Jackson” = Jinit
Jackson
Julanis Morrissette Ulan Lanis + Affix “Ju” +
Popular name
“Morrissette” = Julanis
morrissette
Hagardo Versoza Haggard Affix “Ha” + Popular name
“ Gardo versoza” =
Hagardo versoza

D. Word reversal
Gay word Meaning in Bisaya Formulation
Abas noise Abas

E. Blending
Gay words Meaning in Bisaya Formulation
Fatherbells Papa Father + bells =
Fatherbells
Motherbells Mama Mother + bells =
Motherbells
Betnest Bet Bet + nest = Betnest
Wheresang Aha Where + sang =
Wheresang
Lapfang Kaon Lap + fang = Lapfang
 III. Extent of understanding gay language

In this section, the researchers are compelling some of the gay words found from

the table above to make a short dialogues, and presented them to those 5 non-gay

language speakers to perceive their understanding about gay language. Also, to

identify the percentage, we are using this formula (respond answers ÷ number of

respondents x 100 = percent)

Gay language Strongly Not Neutral Understand Strongly

dialogue not understan understan understan
understand d d d
Shoedi 0 0 3 2 0
distorbohon ang
fooda kung
whersang siya
nag sleeping
beauty, pero
Washington, D.C.
deay.
Table 1.

Gay language Strongly Not Neutral Understand Strongly

dialogue not understant understan understan
understan d d
d
Ang toyotar 0 0 5 0 0
betnest saiyang
motherbells nga
dili mag abas
samtang ga
lapfang.
The table above shows that 60 percent of the respondents neutral understand the

sentence “Shoedi distorbohon ang fooda kung whersang siya nag sleeping beauty,

pero Washington, D.C. deay” this means that they understand some of the words

from gay language and some are not. However, 40 percent of the respondents
answered they understand the dialogue, and it is truly says that almost of the gay

words that being compromised has been understand.

Table 2.

The table above indicated that 100 percent of the respondent answered neutral

understand about this gay language dialogue “Ang toyotar betnest saiyang

motherbells nga dili mag abas samtang ga lapfang” this means that they fair

understand some of the words from gay language and some are not. Commonly,

they understand gay language and they are able to communicate with the gay

language speakers.

Table 3.

Gay language Strongly Not Neutral Understand Strongly

dialogue not understan understan understan
understand d d d
Gora na unta kay 0 0 4 1 0
jinit Jackson
man, pero nag
julanis
morressette,
maong na
hagardo versoza
si fatherbells.
The table above demonstrated that 80 percent of the respondent retorted Neutral

understand about this gay language dialogue “Gora na unta kay jinit Jackson man,

pero nag julanis morressette, maong na hagardo versoza si fatherbellz” this means

that they impartial understand some of the words from gay language and some are

not. Regardless to that, 20 percent of the respondent responded they actually

understand the said gay language dialogue. Generally, most of the none gay

language speakers understand gay language and they are able to communicate with

the gay language speakers.