Queer Linguistic approaches to discourse

Abstract

This introductory essay to the Discourse & Society special issue on Queer Linguistic Approaches to Discourse discusses the theoretical underpinnings of the connection between discourse studies and Queer Theory within Queer Linguistics -a strand of research that has recently gained great momentum. It outlines basic issues in Queer Theory and their repercussions in Queer Linguistic debates and research. The Queer Linguistic objective to provide critical heteronormativity research is then related to Queer Discourse Studies in its various forms and approaches. An overview of the contributions to the special issue and suggestions for future research conclude the article.

La representación de personas LGTBI+ en prensa española conservadora y progresista

“…Por parte de la prensa conservadora, podríamos hablar de silenciamiento en línea con lo defendido por Carratalá (2010). Diferentes estudios dentro de la corriente de la lingüística queer (Motschenbacher y Stegu, 2013; Giffney y O'Rourke, 2017) inciden en que esta actitud de silenciamiento de las personas o eventos LGTBI+ es una de las principales estrategias discursivas de discriminación contra este colectivo.…”

‘I'm not proud, I'm just gay’: Lesbian and gay youths' discursive negotiation of otherness

“…The consequence of homonormativity, it is argued, is that gay men and lesbians who engage in practices such as marriage and child‐rearing, and perform broadly gender normative identities, are rewarded for being good citizens; those who fail to meet the normative ideal and are perceived as being too ‘queer’, in contrast, continue to be marginalised. On the other hand, it may be argued that framing such practices as ‘assimilationist’ positions them as part of the heterosexual domain, reproducing sexual binaries (Hall ) and casting gay men and lesbians who engage in them as passive or ignorant (Manalansan ; Motschenbacher and Stegu ).…”

Language, sexuality and inclusive pedagogy

“…The field of critical applied linguistics in conjunction with queer linguistics can be particularly useful for responding to this call. Motschenbacher and Stegu (: 520) importantly note that queer linguistics is not the same as gay and lesbian linguistics in which the object of study is “queer subjects.” As they explain:

Using a Queer perspective […] is not so much a matter of deciding what is Queer, but of choosing to view certain behaviours in a non‐heteronormative light or from the perspective of the sexually marginalised.

Motschenbacher () and Motschenbacher and Stegu () argue that queer linguistics lends itself well to an eclectic combination of linguistic analytical frameworks (or methodological pluralism) in order to provide mutually qualifying positions. Leap () has also referred to a “scavenger methodology” as being particularly appropriate for queer inquiry across a range of disciplines.…”