A lexical – semantic analysis of the language of the lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender communities in Nairobi city county, Kenya
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Date
2017-11
Authors
Kinyua, Gemma Kaimuri
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
This study undertook a lexico–semantic analysis of the language of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) speech community in Nairobi. It sought to achieve the following objectives: Identify and describe the lexical items used in specific ways by the LGBT speech community; to determine the word formation processes involved in the development of lexical items in the language used by the LGBT speech community and finally, to identify the Socio-psychological factors that govern the use of those particular lexical items by the LGBT speech community. The study utilized a purposive sample of 44 participants who were members of the LGBT community. Data was collected using a brain storming session, questionnaires administered to all the participants, an interview with the leaders of the various categories in the entire LGBT community and also the researcher’s participation in the WhatsApp group whose membership drew from the categories of the LGBT. Guided by Carol Myers-Scotton (1993) Markedness Model (MM), data from respondents was analysed in various ways. Data from questionnaires was analyzed descriptively and presented in terms of percentages and frequencies while data from the interviews, brain storming session and the WhatsApp conversations was presented in form of a list of lexical items together with some qualitative verbatim expressions that provided a context within which the semantics of such lexical items can be appreciated. The findings indicated that lexical items commonly used by the LGBT speech community are in seven broad categories including those describing sex roles/acts, those that are discrete/unique to the speech community, those that describe the sex organs/body physique, those that identify the various categories of the LGBT from their mode of dressing, those that reveal the socio-economic status of the members of the LGBT community among others. The study also established that the main word formation processes involved in the LGBT lexicon mainly include; same word acquiring different meaning, borrowing, coinage, compounding, acronyms, abbreviations, blending and clipping. Finally, the study revealed that the main socio-psychological factors that influence the use of the LGBT lexicon include the creation of a sense of belonging and to conceal their identity for fear of arrest, oppression or stigmatization. Findings indicated that the formation of the LGBT lexical items follows similar processes like any other mainstream languages hence there is every possibility for the lexicon to develop into a discrete language, despite the social stigma associated with its speakers
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of master of arts to the school of humanities and social sciences of Kenyatta University