Sociolect of the Third Gender in Leyte: A Linguistic Analysis

Abstract This paper examines the sociolect of the third gender and its impact on language use and development. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study shows that most participants are middle-aged gay men who speak Cebuano Visayan and are members of the Roman Catholic Church. The analysis indicates that their language employs various word-formation processes, including analogy, reversals, creative spelling, reanalysis, morphological derivation/affixation, new word creation, eponyms, lexical change, and compounding. Participants believe their specialized language could cause conflict, confusion, uncertainty, and misunderstandings. However, they also contend that such language promotes the growth of new words and vocabulary, which are vital to the language's evolution. Overall, the study finds that the third gender's sociolect uses well-known linguistic processes, such as analogy, reversals, creative spelling, reanalysis, morphological derivation/affixation, new word creation, eponyms, lexical change, and compounding.