Polari - The Lost Language of Gay Men

Polari Is A Secret Form Of Language Mainly Used By Homosexual Men In London And Other Cities During The Twentieth Century. Derived In Part From The Slang Lexicons Of Numerous Stigmatised And Itinerant Groups, Polari Was Also A Means Of Socialising, Acting Out Camp Performances And Reconstructing A Shared Gay Identity And Worldview Among Its Speakers. This Book Examines The Ways In Which Polari Was Used In Order To Construct 'gay Identities', Linking Its Evolution To The Changing Status Of Gay Men And Lesbians In The Uk Over The Past Fifty Years. Chapter 1 What Is Polari? -- Chapter 2 Historical Origins -- Chapter 3 Polari As A Language System -- Chapter 4 Uses And Abuses -- Chapter 5 Julian And Sandy -- Chapter 6 Decline -- Chapter 7 Revival -- Chapter 8 Conclusion. Paul Baker. Description Based Upon Print Version Of Record. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [200]-208) And Index. English