Language Use and Code-switching by LGBTQ+-identified Individuals in Tunisia

In Muslim-majority societies and Arabic-speaking communities, homosexuality remains negatively perceived, and Tunisia is no exception. Despite the democratic transition in post-revolution Tunisia, homosexuality is still a taboo topic. In this regard, Tunisian LGBTQ+ individuals continue to be socially disadvantaged and experience a myriad of legal challenges on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This fact might influence their speech behavior and prompt them to alter their use of language according to the sexual orientation of the interlocutor. In this light, the following sociolinguistic research work attempts to study language use by Tunisian LGBTQ+ people by placing focus on the phenomenon of code-switching (multilingual and diglossic), which is a common practice in the Tunisian linguistic scene. This study also seeks to examine the use of politically incorrect terms by LGBTQ+ individuals in Tunisia, and see whether these terms are used for self-identification and have undergone linguistic reclamation. To carry out this study and to address the research questions, a mixed-method approach is adopted at the data collection and interpretation stages using participant observation, a multiple-choice questionnaire, and a semi-structured interview as research techniques.