Deborah Cameron is Professor of Languages at the Institute of Education, University of London. She is the author of numerous books, including Feminism and Linguistic Theory (1992), Verbal Hygiene (1995) and Good to Talk (2000). Don Kulick is Professor of Anthropology at New York University. His published works include Language Shift and Cultural Reproduction (1992), Taboo (1995, with Margaret Willson) and Travesti (1998). He is co-editor of the journals Ethnos and GLQ.

'A much needed book … the authors affirm the centrality of language to sexuality, and in doing so map out a vital field of study.' Jeffrey Weeks, author of Making Sexual History

• Preface; 1. Making connection; 2. Talking sex and thinking sex: the linguistic and discursive construction of sexuality; 3. What has gender got to do with sex? Language, heterosexuality and heteronormativity; 4. Sexuality as identity: gay and lesbian language; 5. Looking beyond identity: language and desire; 6. Language and sexuality: theory, research and politics.

Deborah Cameron is Professor of Languages at the Institute of Education, University of London. She is the author of numerous books, including Feminism and Linguistic Theory (1992), Verbal Hygiene (1995) and Good to Talk (2000). Don Kulick is Professor of Anthropology at New York University. His published works include Language Shift and Cultural Reproduction (1992), Taboo (1995, with Margaret Willson) and Travesti (1998). He is co-editor of the journals Ethnos and GLQ.

'A much needed book … the authors affirm the centrality of language to sexuality, and in doing so map out a vital field of study.' Jeffrey Weeks, author of Making Sexual History

• Preface; 1. Making connection; 2. Talking sex and thinking sex: the linguistic and discursive construction of sexuality; 3. What has gender got to do with sex? Language, heterosexuality and heteronormativity; 4. Sexuality as identity: gay and lesbian language; 5. Looking beyond identity: language and desire; 6. Language and sexuality: theory, research and politics.

Deborah Cameron is Professor of Languages at the Institute of Education, University of London. She is the author of numerous books, including Feminism and Linguistic Theory (1992), Verbal Hygiene (1995) and Good to Talk (2000). Don Kulick is Professor of Anthropology at New York University. His published works include Language Shift and Cultural Reproduction (1992), Taboo (1995, with Margaret Willson) and Travesti (1998). He is co-editor of the journals Ethnos and GLQ.

'A much needed book … the authors affirm the centrality of language to sexuality, and in doing so map out a vital field of study.' Jeffrey Weeks, author of Making Sexual History

• Preface; 1. Making connection; 2. Talking sex and thinking sex: the linguistic and discursive construction of sexuality; 3. What has gender got to do with sex? Language, heterosexuality and heteronormativity; 4. Sexuality as identity: gay and lesbian language; 5. Looking beyond identity: language and desire; 6. Language and sexuality: theory, research and politics.