Bisexuality in experimental sociophonetics

Abstract

The belief that there is a relationship between sexuality and speech has inspired a vast body of linguistic research on lesbian- and gay-sounding voices (Campbell-Kibler 2007, Gaudio 1994, Levon 2006, Moonwomon-Baird 1997, Munson, McDonald, DeBoe & White 2006a, Munson, Jefferson & McDonald 2006b, Pierrehumbert, Bent, Munson, Bradlow & Bailey 2004, Smyth, Jacobs & Rogers 2003, Zimman 2013). Bisexuality is conspicuously absent in this literature. This article analyzes bisexual English speakers’ productions of the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/ relative to lesbian, gay, and straight speakers using linear mixed-effects regression modeling. A qualitative analysis of post-test participant information surveys contextualizes the statistical findings. The quantitative and qualitative results suggest that bisexual women and men do not pattern consistently with each other or lesbian, gay, or straight speakers. The analysis highlights the extent to which ideologies of sexuality, gender, and normativity inform experimental sociophonetic research practice.