Journal of English Language Teaching

Gendered Linguistics:A Gymnastics to make the Queer Non-existent

Joseph K J

PhD Research Scholar, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr. J Amalaveenus

Asst. Prof. of English, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India.

Dr Justin James

Faculty of English & eLearning Coordinator at the University of Technology, and Applied Sciences, Sultanate of Oman

Keywords: Communication, Feminine, Gendered Linguistics, Masculine, Queer

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Abstract

While learning the English language, the students are usually made aware of the masculine, feminine, common, and neuter genders. The stress is on the masculine and feminine genders among four genders. Common and neuter genders are kept behind the curtain of oblivion. This strategy is employed to facilitate the perpetuation of heterosexual hegemony in linguistics and society, to keep the queer individuals silenced, marginalized, and voiceless. As a result, queer people find it challenging to incorporate themselves into masculine or feminine genders. This research attempts a detailed search in the novels of the queer writer and activist Sarah Schulman to expose gender-related issues that queers encounter in using gender in linguistics and communication. A survey is done to draw a clear picture of the problem on fifty college students. This research expects to analyse the paradigm shift in the usage of gender from exclusive linguistics to inclusive linguistics.

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