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ETD Abstract Container

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Language, Gender And Identity: The Case Of Kotis In Lucknow- India

Nagar, Ila
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1222102359

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Linguistics.
In this dissertation I explore the linguistics practices of a community of male sexworkers who self identify as kotis in Lucknow-India. Kotis switch their identities between heterosexual males and kotis and this switch is most clearly manifest in their language choices. The data for this research was collected over four summers. I used ethnographic methods including one-to-one interviews, focus group interviews and participant observation to collect speech data. I analyzed the data using theories of variationist sociolinguistics especially the communities of practice framework, discourse analysis and gender studies. The two linguistic features that kotis use are Farasi and feminine gender markings. Kotis use a code language which they call Farasi, which is a mixture of Hindi grammar and vocabulary of an unknown source. Kotis also use feminine gender markings in their role as kotis, when they assume their more feminine personae; the use of feminine gender marks them as different from other sexual identities. These two features of their language are discussed in detail. With the help of quantitative and qualitative methodology, I show that kotis use language to perform their identity as kotis.
Donald Winford (Advisor)
Sally Kitch (Committee Member)
Daniel Collins (Committee Member)
Zaharlick Amy (Committee Member)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Nagar, I. (2008). Language, Gender And Identity: The Case Of Kotis In Lucknow- India [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1222102359

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Nagar, Ila. Language, Gender And Identity: The Case Of Kotis In Lucknow- India. 2008. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1222102359.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Nagar, Ila. "Language, Gender And Identity: The Case Of Kotis In Lucknow- India." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1222102359

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1222102359
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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.