Polari (language)
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Revision as of 06:45, 31 October 2011 by Ross Burgess (Talk | contribs)
This page describes the language; for other uses of the term, see Polari.
Polari is a language or slang used by gay people (particularly gay men). According to Wikipedia it is also used by "by actors, circus and fairground showmen, criminals, [and] prostitutes."[1]
Polari was a feature of gay culture up to the 1960s, when its use began to decline as greater public and legal acceptance of homosexuality made it no longer so necessary to have a private language.
The characters Julian and Sandy on the radio programme Round the Horne made much use of Polari, giving it a wider audience.
