Language, Sexuality, and Power

This collection explores the interplay of sexuality and language across various global contexts, highlighting how cultural ideologies shape sexual expression and individual identities through diverse linguistic practices and social structures.

Language, Sexuality, and Power delves into the intricate relationship between sexuality as both a social and linguistic phenomenon. This collection of essays brings together research from various global contexts, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East. It investigates how differing national and cultural ideologies shape the understanding and expression of sexualities through language. The volume emphasizes the role of language in mediating personal desires and broader social structures.

The contributors employ a variety of methodologies, including experiments, discourse analysis, and statistical tests, to uncover the linguistic elements—such as accent, grammar, vocabulary, and discourse—that are ideologically linked to sexuality in specific contexts. This multi-faceted approach allows for a deeper understanding of how individuals navigate and interpret the speech of others, as well as how they present themselves in everyday life. By combining insights from linguistics, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies, the essays highlight the culturally specific associations that influence perceptions of sexuality.

Overall, the eleven chapters in this volume provide a comprehensive exploration of the connections between language and sexuality, showcasing the diverse ways these themes intersect with other aspects of lived experience. The book serves as a valuable resource for scholars interested in intersectional sociolinguistics and contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding language, identity, and power dynamics in various under-explored national and linguistic settings.