English etymology
The word "Gay" has had a sexual meaning since at least19th century (maybe earlier). In Victorian England, both women and men were called "homosexuals" (because they were brightly dressed). So in the end, "gay" became the name of all gay men. In the United States, the term may come from the tramp group: a young tramp, or a "gay cat" or an "intermittent cat", often has to make friends with another older and experienced tramp in order to get a chance to learn and survive. There is sex in this relationship, so "gay cat" means "young gay". Among these earliest "homosexuals", Thomas collingwood is the most famous. He is a chubby musician with a face like an angel. After long-term unemployment, he fell into a difficult life.
Gertrude Stein wrote in Miss Fur&; The introduction in Mrs. skeen (1922) is probably the earliest traceable usage of this word, although it is not sure whether she refers to lesbianism or happiness.
They are … gay, they seldom learn how to be gay, … they are totally gay.
They are ... homosexuals, they have learned some little things about homosexuality, ... they are often homosexuals.
Noel Coward's musical Bitter and Sweet is the first undisputed use of this word. In the song "Green Carnation",1in the 1980s, four people dressed as playboys sang:
Beautiful boy, smart boy, you can
Sniff our depravity,
Arrogant boy, naughty boy,
Honey, honey, honey!
Be fascinated by emotion ...
Why are we in the 1990s?
Will be called gay,
We are all wearing green carnations.
Beautiful boy, witty boy, you may laugh.
When we broke up.
Arrogant boy, naughty boy,
Honey, honey, honey!
be artificial/unnatural ...
Because we are the reason.
Because the post-90s generation is gay,
We all wear green carnations.
Cowell used "gay 90 s" as a pun. The name of this song implies the gay playwright Wilde, who is famous for wearing green carnations.
Gay has a narrow sense and a broad sense. Homosexuality in a narrow sense only refers to men who tend to have sexual or emotional relations with other men. Homosexuality in a broad sense refers to men and women who tend to have sexual or emotional relations with the same sex. (However, this point is controversial, so some people will use the word "lesbian and gay". Please meet gay people. Whether bisexuality is included in these usages is also a controversial issue (see bisexuality).
Some people claim that gay is abbreviated from the first letter of the sentence "Good As You", but this is based on the false etymology of the word gay.
Another folk etymology is related to Gay Street, which is located in new york West Village, which is connected with gay culture. According to the literature, it seems that this term once existed in new york in the form of code at 1940s. "Are you gay?" This question shows that there may be more meaning than outsiders seem.
According to the Washington State Safe Schools Alliance (Washington Safe Schools Alliance), the professional dictionary of school staff says:
Homosexuality: avoid using this term; Too clinical, too far away, too old. It is sometimes appropriate to mention homosexual behavior (although homosexuality is a better adjective). When referring to a person, homosexuality is regarded as a kind of degradation, contrary to the mentioned behavior, and homosexuality is a better term, at least in the northwest of the United States.
Therefore, in the eyes of some people, the word homosexuality also belongs to "politically incorrect" vocabulary.
Usage in China area
Taiwan Province Province, China
In Taiwan Province Province, gay has generally become one of the terms used by gay groups to address themselves, and it is also acceptable outside the group. However, gay has never been a term used to refer to lesbians at the same time, or at least it has not been widely accepted. Lesbian groups will call themselves lesbians. Usually when talking about the word gay, Lazi will be a relative noun.
There is no accurate Chinese translation of English "gay" in Taiwan Province province at present. Some people think that homosexuality is a possible translation of gay, but gay in the context of Taiwan Province Province includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people (see LGBT entry) and even dissidents like BDSM, while gay only refers to gay men. It is precisely because people can't understand gay in Chinese translation that English vocabulary is widely used in Taiwan Province Province.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the Chinese translation of gay is gay. However, this Chinese title is derogatory because it is often used in a sarcastic tone.
continent
Gay generally does not refer to lesbians in mainland usage, and the name of lesbians is similar to that of Taiwan Province Province. The original English text rarely appears in official articles, and is replaced by homosexuality or gay men. The word "comrade" often appears now.
Differences in usage between English and Chinese
Gay can be used as a noun and adjective in English;
When doing adjectives, the expression "He is gay" (he is gay) is very common, and the singular form of the noun "he is gay" rarely appears.
When making nouns, they usually appear in the plural to describe groups, such as "gays and lesbians". The singular or minority is much less common, such as "he is gay" or "there are two homosexuals". This usage sometimes indicates that the speaker is slightly derogatory or joking.
In Chinese, the singular usage of the noun "He is gay" is very common in Chinese mainland. But he also said, "He's gay."