Polari is not the only cryptolect associated with gay subculture in the Anglo world. The alternative spelling of “Palare” reflects that there is no proper way to write Polari. Morrissey’s 1990 single “Piccadilly Palare” explicitly references the cryptolect. Polari is rarely spoken today, but it does occasionally find its way into art. Polari was a “wink” to those in the know. ![]() The couple never discussed sexual orientation, but they didn’t need to. Given that homosexuality was illegal in England until 1967, by any definition, Polari is an outlaw language.īBC Radio introduced Polari to the masses in the 1960s with a flamboyant comedy duo named Julian and Sandy, who frequently lapsed into the language. From the stage, it became a secret code among British homosexuals. What everyone agrees on is that Polari became the insider dialect of English theater. Others claim it began as the jargon of 19th-century Italian carnies. One theory is that British sailors crafted this tongue by combining the Mediterranean lingua franca with local slang. ![]() The origins of this UK cryptolect are shrouded in mystery. Make no mistake: Outlaws move the mainstream. The exact number of “cryptolects”-secret languages known only to the initiated-is unknown, but many have influenced popular vocabulary. Outsiders need a way to communicate with each other in secret.
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