The most comprehensive Polari index and phrase book

 Fusing one of the world’s most endangered languages with 21st century communications technology. This unique app contains an accurate A to Z of all 500 words and 40 authentic key phrases. 

Read the detailed etymology unique to this app to discover the history behind many of the words.

Get you own bona bijou app-ette

You can now own Polari app on either iPhone or Android.

 By owning this app you become a custodian of the language, literally holding its future in your hand. Through its new interactive features you can add words that may be missing, or be inventive and create new words and phrases to be submitted directly via the app. ‘Favourite’ a word or phrase  from the lexicon and see it rise in global  popularity. 

“Polari was a secret form of language used mainly by gay men, lesbians and people who worked in the theatre. It was most often used in London and other UK cities with a gay sub-culture, and was popular between the 1930s and 1960s. It was introduced to a wider audience through a 1960s comedy radio programme, called Round The Horne. Apart from a few familiar words, it is hardly known today.” 

Professor Paul Baker (Lancaster University)
 

More from Professor Paul Baker on Polari

Introduce Friends 

Try talking to friends in this curious and humorous, gay language; share these weird and wonderful words and phrases, directly from the app, and help to keep Polari alive. 

The Polari app is a collaboration that began in 2010 between the artist, Joseph Richardson, and Paul Baker, Professor of English Language and Linguistics.  (Lancaster University).  The project launched its first version in 2012, and became part of the Polari Mission project with a second version in 2013.  We are now proud to have launched our third version full of new interactive features in 2014.

Polari Mission was a multi-disciplinary collaboration which created a series of exhibitions, performances, visual artwork, and installations: an investigation into the genesis, surrounding history, and the current use of Polari, and how LGBT groups and individuals view, understand and appreciate the influence of Polari on their language communities and contemporary culture.

More info:  www.polarimission.com