Gay guys using gay language: Friendship, shared values and the intent-context-effect matrix

McCormack, M.; Wignall, L.; Morris, M.

doi:10.1111/1468-4446.12203

Gay guys using gay language: Friendship, shared values and the intent-context-effect matrix

McCormack, M.; Wignall, L.; Morris, M.

Authors

M. McCormack

L. Wignall

M. Morris

Abstract

This article draws on in-depth interviews with 35 openly gay male undergraduates from four universities in England to develop an understanding of the changing nature of language related to homosexuality. In addition to finding a diminution in the prevalence of homophobic language, we demonstrate that participants maintain complex and nuanced understandings of phrases that do not use homophobic pejoratives, such as ‘that’s so gay’. The majority of participants rejected the notion that these phrases are inherently homophobic, instead arguing that the intent with which they are said and the context in which they are used are vital in understanding their meaning and effect. We conceptualize an intent-context-effect matrix to understand the interdependency of these variables. Highlighting the situated nature of this matrix, we also demonstrate the importance of the existence of shared norms between those saying and hearing the phrase when interpreting such language.

Citation

McCormack, M., Wignall, L., & Morris, M. (2016). Gay guys using gay language: Friendship, shared values and the intent-context-effect matrix. British Journal of Sociology, 67(4), 747-767. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12203

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Sep 7, 2015
Online Publication Date	Jul 14, 2016
Publication Date	Dec 1, 2016
Deposit Date	Sep 7, 2015
Publicly Available Date	Jul 14, 2018
Journal	British Journal of Sociology
Print ISSN	0007-1315
Electronic ISSN	1468-4446
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	67
Issue	4
Pages	747-767
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12203

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: McCormack, M., Wignall, L. & Morris, M. (2016). Gay guys using gay language: Friendship, shared values and the intent-context-effect matrix. British Journal of Sociology, 67(4): 747-767, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12203. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.