Fabulosa! : the story of polari, Britain's secret gay language
Polari is a language that was used chiefly by gay men in the first half of the twentieth century. At a time when being gay could result in criminal prosecution--or worse--Polari offered its speakers a degree of public camouflage, a way of expressing humor, and a means of identification and of establishing a community. Its roots are colorful and varied--from thieves' Cant to Lingua Franca and prostitutes' slang--and in the mid-1960s it was thrust...
Item Details & Discovery
Explore Topics & Themes: