Let’s Talk About Sex: Examining Language Choices in Contemporary Romance

In considering modern romance novels, a critical component of the genre is the language employed to describe sexual encounters between characters. While the explicit sexual language of romance novels is often a source of derision and humor for non-readers, the language choices that are employed to describe sexual encounters is a key component of the structure and presentation of romance novels themselves. Romance novels share a common vernacular of descriptors used to paint the scenes within the novel, building and exploring sexual tension and fulfillment, presenting very physical scenes through a very cerebral medium. While there are common terms and phrases frequently employed, these terms have not remained static over the development of the genre, seeing a shift from coquettish monikers to bold terms used to name and describe sex and intimacy. This paper seeks to explore the shifts in language and word choices in modern romance novels by considering popular terms and phrases prevalent within the genre, how these trends change and develop over time, and to consider the cause and impact of how authors of romance describe intimate physical relationships. In doing so, this paper also seeks to consider how the words and phrases chosen to describe and explore sexual encounters create or remove boundaries for discussing and appreciating sexual pleasure for romance readers, create more open and affirming views of consensual sexual encounters and foster sexual empowerment for romance readers