Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima
This article examines the relationship between the use of the pronoun tú among working-class men and the perceived homosexuality of its use. In Colombia, the use of tú and ustedamong men is often a carefully considered linguistic choice, one that is tied to sexual identity and gender. While statisti...
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Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia
2017
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| Online Access: | https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/linguistica_hispanica/article/view/5846 |
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| author | Zwisler, Joshua James |
| author_facet | Zwisler, Joshua James |
| author_sort | Zwisler, Joshua James |
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| description | This article examines the relationship between the use of the pronoun tú among working-class men and the perceived homosexuality of its use. In Colombia, the use of tú and ustedamong men is often a carefully considered linguistic choice, one that is tied to sexual identity and gender. While statistical studies have been done looking at this trend, prior research had not examined the reasoning behind this choice. In modern sociolinguistics and sociology, heterosexuality is not seen as a fixed aspect of a person’s being, but as a social identity that is managed through discourse. Embarking from Social Identity Theory, this research used a series of 20 extensive ethnographic interviews in Tolima, Colombia to explore the connection between heterosexuality and pronoun selection. After analysis using grounded theory, the article examines the idea that it is not homosexuality but heterosexuality that is constructed through careful pronoun use and that heterosexuality is actually a delicate construction. In this context, the article concludes that the sociolinguistic function of tú and usted is to serve as contextualization cues for the social distance required for men’s heterosexual social identity. |
| format | Online |
| id | oai:oai.revistas.uptc.edu.co:article-5846 |
| institution | Revista Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica |
| language | spa eng |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | oai:oai.revistas.uptc.edu.co:article-58462022-06-15T16:43:28Z Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima Tú, Usted y la construcción de la heterosexualidad masculina en hombres jóvenes, de clase trabajadora en Tolima Tu, Vous et la construction de l’hétérosexualité masculine chez de jeunes hommes travailleurs à Tolima Tú, Usted ea construção da heterossexualidade masculina em jovens, Homens da classe trabalhadora em Tolima Zwisler, Joshua James T-V distinction heterosexuality homosexuality social identity sociolinguistic identity Distinción T-V heterosexualidad homosexualidad identidad social identidad sociolingüística distinction T-V hétérosexualité homosexualité identité sociale identité sociolinguistique Distinção T-V heterossexualidade identidade social identidade sociolinguística This article examines the relationship between the use of the pronoun tú among working-class men and the perceived homosexuality of its use. In Colombia, the use of tú and ustedamong men is often a carefully considered linguistic choice, one that is tied to sexual identity and gender. While statistical studies have been done looking at this trend, prior research had not examined the reasoning behind this choice. In modern sociolinguistics and sociology, heterosexuality is not seen as a fixed aspect of a person’s being, but as a social identity that is managed through discourse. Embarking from Social Identity Theory, this research used a series of 20 extensive ethnographic interviews in Tolima, Colombia to explore the connection between heterosexuality and pronoun selection. After analysis using grounded theory, the article examines the idea that it is not homosexuality but heterosexuality that is constructed through careful pronoun use and that heterosexuality is actually a delicate construction. In this context, the article concludes that the sociolinguistic function of tú and usted is to serve as contextualization cues for the social distance required for men’s heterosexual social identity. Este artículo examina la relación entre el uso del pronombre tú entre hombres de la clase trabajadora y la homosexualidad percibida de su uso. En Colombia, el uso de tú y usted entre hombres es una elección lingüística cuidadosamente considerada –es una elección que viene vinculada con la identidad sexual y género–. Mientras sí hay estudios estadísticos acerca de este fenómeno, la investigación anterior no ha examinado el razonamiento que existe tras esta elección de pronombres. En la sociolingüística y sociología moderna, la heterosexualidad no es vista como un aspecto fijo del ser de la persona como una identidad social que se maneja a través del discurso. Embarcando desde la Teoría de Identidad Social, esta investigación usó una serie de 20 extensas encuestas etnográficas en el Tolima, Colombia, para explorar la conexión que hay entre la heterosexualidad y la elección del pronombre. Después de analizar los datos usando el muestreo teórico, este trabajo expone la idea de que no es la homosexualidad sino la heterosexualidad la que es construida por el uso cuidadoso de pronombres y que esta última es una construcción delicada. En este contexto, el artículo concluye que la función sociolingüística de tú y usted constituye señales de contextualización para la distancia social requerida de la identidad heterosexual social de los hombres. Cet article examine le rapporte entre l’utilisation du pronom tu entre les hommes de la classe ouvrière et l’homosexualité perçue de son utilisation. En Colombie, l’utilisation de tu et vous entre hommes est un choix linguistique soigneusement considérée –c’est un choix qui est lié avec l’identité sexuelle et de genre–. Tandis qu’il y a des études linguistiques sur ce phénomène, la recherche précédente n’a pas examiné le raisonnement qui existe après ce choix de pronoms. Dans la sociolinguistique moderne, l’hétérosexualité n’est pas vue comme un aspect fixe de la personne, en tant qu’identité sociale qui est conduite à travers le discours. En embarquant dès la Théorie de l’Identité Sociale, cette recherche a utilisé une série de 20 longues enquêtes ethnographiques à Tolima, Colombie, pour explorer la connexion existant entre l’hétérosexualité et le choix du pronom. Après l’analyse des données, en utilisant l’échantillonnage théorique, ce travail expose l’idée que ce n’est pas l’homosexualité mais l’hétérosexualité, celle qui est construite par l’utilisation soigneuse des pronoms et que cette dernière, est une construction délicate. Dans ce contexte, l’article conclut que la fonction sociolinguistique de tu et vous constitue des signes de contextualisation pour la distance sociale requise de l’identité hétérosexuelle sociale des hommes. Este artigo examina a relação entre o uso do pronome tu entre homens da classe trabalhadora e a homossexualidade percebida de seu uso. Na Colômbia, o uso de tu e você entre homens é uma escolha linguística cuidadosamente considerada –é uma escolha que vem vinculada com a identidade sexual e gênero–. Apesar de que haja estudos estatísticos acerca deste fenômeno, a pesquisa anterior não tem examinado o raciocínio que existe por trás desta escolha de pronomes. Na sociolinguística e sociologia moderna, a heterossexualidade não é vista como um aspecto fixo do ser da pessoa como uma identidade social que se administra através do discurso. Embarcando desde a Teoria de Identidade Social, esta pesquisa usou uma série de 20 extensas sondagens etnográficas em Tolima, Colômbia, para explorar a conexão que há entre a heterossexualidade e a escolha do pronome. Depois de analisar os dados usando a amostragem teórica, este trabalho expõe a ideia de que não é a homossexualidade senão a heterossexualidade a que é construída pelo uso cuidadoso de pronomes e que esta última é uma construção delicada. Neste contexto, o artigo conclui que a função sociolinguística de tu e você constituem sinais de contextualização para a distância social requerida da identidade heterossexual social dos homens. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia 2017-02-16 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf text/html application/xml https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/linguistica_hispanica/article/view/5846 10.19053/0121053X.n29.2017.5846 Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica; No. 29: January-June 2017; 39-62 Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica; Núm. 29: (enero-junio de 2017); 39-62 2346-1829 0121-053X spa eng https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/linguistica_hispanica/article/view/5846/4782 https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/linguistica_hispanica/article/view/5846/4882 https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/linguistica_hispanica/article/view/5846/8122 Copyright (c) 2017 Cuadernos de Lingüística Hispánica |
| spellingShingle | T-V distinction heterosexuality homosexuality social identity sociolinguistic identity Distinción T-V heterosexualidad homosexualidad identidad social identidad sociolingüística distinction T-V hétérosexualité homosexualité identité sociale identité sociolinguistique Distinção T-V heterossexualidade identidade social identidade sociolinguística Zwisler, Joshua James Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima |
| title | Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima |
| title_alt | Tú, Usted y la construcción de la heterosexualidad masculina en hombres jóvenes, de clase trabajadora en Tolima Tu, Vous et la construction de l’hétérosexualité masculine chez de jeunes hommes travailleurs à Tolima Tú, Usted ea construção da heterossexualidade masculina em jovens, Homens da classe trabalhadora em Tolima |
| title_full | Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima |
| title_fullStr | Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima |
| title_short | Tú, Usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young, working class men in Tolima |
| title_sort | tu usted and the construction of male heterosexuality in young working class men in tolima |
| topic | T-V distinction heterosexuality homosexuality social identity sociolinguistic identity Distinción T-V heterosexualidad homosexualidad identidad social identidad sociolingüística distinction T-V hétérosexualité homosexualité identité sociale identité sociolinguistique Distinção T-V heterossexualidade identidade social identidade sociolinguística |
| topic_facet | T-V distinction heterosexuality homosexuality social identity sociolinguistic identity Distinción T-V heterosexualidad homosexualidad identidad social identidad sociolingüística distinction T-V hétérosexualité homosexualité identité sociale identité sociolinguistique Distinção T-V heterossexualidade identidade social identidade sociolinguística |
| url | https://revistas.uptc.edu.co/index.php/linguistica_hispanica/article/view/5846 |
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