Polari: a secret vocabulary for protection (Britain, 1930s–1970s)

SUMMARYPolari: a secret vocabulary for protection (Britain, 1930s–1970s) [Connections: Word coding & Masonic method, Nov 5, 2026]

RECORDLinguist Paul Baker (Lancaster University) describes Polari as "a language variety, a sociolect, or an anti-language," used "Mainly gay men, although also lesbians, female impersonators, theatre people, prostitutes." It was used "Most commonly, in the 1930s-1970s, in private gay drinking establishments, particularly in London," "as a form of protection and secrecy - it excluded outsiders." Its sources include backslang, rhyming slang, Italian, French, Occitan, Lingua Franca, Parlyaree and Cant. Words: bona (good), omi (man), palone (woman), vada (to look). After "the (partial) decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967," there was "less need for a secret form of language."

CODEThis is a documented secret vocabulary with a known purpose: concealment from the law and from outsiders

PATTERNSecret vocabularies grow when a group is under legal threat, and they borrow from many languages. They fade when the threat eases

LENS (WW9)People under pressure do code their speech, and that is documented. The receipts are word lists and witness accounts

SOURCEPaul Baker, "Polari: The Lost Language of Gay Men," Lancaster University.