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Article published In:
Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 30:1 (2017) ► pp.74–103

Anglicisms and word axiology in homosexual language

| University of Castilla-La Mancha
| University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Among those areas linked to the forbidden, homosexuality has traditionally met one of the strongest interdictions. Given the taboo nature of homosexuality, it is our purpose in this paper to gain an insight into the axiological values that anglicisms present in the Spanish homosexual vocabulary. The analysis of the different types of anglicisms in a sample of 253 English borrowings reveals that pure anglicisms (including clippings and initialisms) are the most frequently used, followed by pseudoanglicisms. Calques, hybrids and adapted anglicisms are used less often to refer to homosexuality. The research carried out reveals that anglicized units perform different X-phemistic functions in homosexual discourse: not only that of softening or avoiding the use of a taboo term in Spanish but also displaying in-group solidarity or referring to homosexuality disparagingly. Homosexual-related anglicisms promote innovative uses of the Spanish language and provide evidence of a special kind of language used by homosexuals.
Keywords: anglicism, taboo of homosexuality, axiology, euphemism, dysphemism
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Anglicism and X-phemism
    • 2.1Anglicisms and their typology
    • 2.2X-phemism and X-phemistic categories
  • 3.Data and methodology
  • 4.Analysis and discussion
    • 4.1Euphemistic anglicisms
    • 4.2Quasieuphemistic anglicisms
    • 4.3Dysphemistic anglicisms
  • 5.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References


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Published online: 23 November 2017
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https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.30.1.04cre
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