Language of Resistance: The Phenomenon of Kaliarda in Greek Society

Abstract

This thesis examines the emergence and the social function of Kaliarda, a secret coded com- munication developed by queer subjects (mostly trans women and gay men) in 20th century greece during the military dictatorship of Junta. The study explores how Kaliarda functioned as a commu- nicative strategy among marginalized queer communities and investigates its relationship to power, resistance, visibility, and identity formation. The research is based on a qualitative analysis of Elias Petropoulos' Lexicon of Kaliarda (1993), Paola Revenioti's documentary Kaliarda (2015), and relevant academic literature. Drawing on the multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks of Halliday's anti-languages, Muted Group Theory, Co- Cultural Communication Theory, Foucault's concept of subjugated knowledges, Glissant's right to opacity, and Sedgwick's epistemology of the closet, the thesis analyzes Kaliarda through a feminist perspective. The methodological framework employs a Critical Interpretative Literature Review alongside Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), specifically utilizing Multimodal (MCDA) and Feminist (FCDA) variants to examine how power and resistance are negotiated through text and audiovisual media. The findings suggest that Kaliarda functioned as a strategy of survival, resistance, and commu- nity...