„Das klingt echt schwul“ – Eine soziophonetische Untersuchung zum stereotypen schwulen Sprechen im Deutschen

Abstract

Abstract This article examines stereotypical gay speaking using a performative and speaker-centered approach. For this, the default and staged gay ways of speaking of four speakers were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed and compared with each other, supplemented by a perception test. It is argued that stereotypical gay pronunciation can refer to a particular gay persona (i. e., an affected, diva-like extroverted gay man) by analysing which characteristics the speakers used in which way to construct this persona. The results show general usage patterns and the selective use of variants, more specifically an increase in (1) mean pitch, (2) vowel duration, (3) first and second formant of /ɛ/, and (4) intensity as well as de-/nasality and enhanced precision of articulation. The constructions of a persona occur locally, i. e., in a specific context and in combination with other linguistic features. Based on this study’s approach and results, this article contributes to previous studies on the connection between language and sexuality in German speakers.