From Deviant to Domestic: A diachronic corpus-based critical discourse analysis of LGBTQI representation in the Times between 1957-2017

This interdisciplinary project contributes to the historical study of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people in the UK by mapping how queer identities and communities have been represented in the British press as well as how the language of sexual identity has changed. The methodology will contribute to the field of corpus-based critical discourse analysis (CDA) by integrating linguistics with historical research, poststructuralist discourse theory, and cultural studies. The findings will not only make a valuable contribution in academia but will also be extended to the public sphere through a contribution to LGBT History Month (LGBTHM) and Schools Out UK. This will occur in two ways. First, the chair of Schools OUT UK has provided questions regarding the mainstream representation of particular moments in LGBTQI history (Sanders, 2018). Secondly, the outcomes of this study will be shared with LGBTHM and Schools OUT UK in order to help broaden the historical understanding of LGBTQI history upon which the events and LGBTHM school curriculum are based. By broadening our understanding of language historically, we can provide for a more accurate and intersectional
understanding of the history of LGBTQI people in the UK. The project will take 6 years part-time and answer the
following questions:
- How does the British press use language to discursively represent the concept of identity and community
as they relate to LGBTQI people?
- In what ways have such representations changed between 1957-2017?
- What are the potential consequences of such representations for different types of LGBTQI people?