Subjects

English Lang.

Language diversity & change

The importance of gendered language

Differences in How Boys and Girls Talk: Fun Examples and Theories

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Differences in How Boys and Girls Talk: Fun Examples and Theories

Aleksandra Golowska

@hola_soy_ola

166 Followers

The study of language and gender differences in communication has been a significant area of research in sociolinguistics. This summary explores various theories and studies that examine how men and women use language differently, focusing on the work of prominent researchers like Jennifer Coates, Deborah Tannen, and Deborah Cameron.

Key points:

Researchers have identified distinct communication styles between men and women
Women's language is often characterized as cooperative and supportive
Men's language tends to be more hierarchical and status-oriented
The Difference Model and Diversity Model offer contrasting perspectives on gender communication
Studies have examined various aspects of language use, including conversation styles, interruptions, and gossip

15/01/2023

1181

Report Talk and Rapport Talk

Deborah Tannen's research on gender differences in language use introduces the concepts of "report talk" (associated with men) and "rapport talk" (associated with women).

Definition: Report talk focuses on conveying information, while rapport talk aims to build relationships.

Tannen's comparison of male and female communication styles:

Women:

Talk more in private contexts
Build relationships
Overlap in conversation
Speak symmetrically

Men:

Get more air time in public settings
Negotiate status and avoid failure
Speak one at a time
Speak asymmetrically

Vocabulary: Overlapping - Supportive simultaneous speech, distinct from interruptions.

Tannen also introduces the concepts of high involvement and high considerateness speakers:

High involvement speakers show enthusiastic support, even through simultaneous speech.
High considerateness speakers are more concerned with being considerate to others and not imposing on the conversation.

Example: In the British House of Commons, there's a formal procedure for turn-taking, where speakers request permission to intervene with phrases like "Will you give way?"

This approach differs from the Dominance approach, suggesting that language is used differently by men and women but not necessarily to establish dominance.

Difference Model research:
-Jennifer Contes (1989) - Coates argues that girls and boys.
tend to belong to same sex friendship groups when gr

Women's Oral Culture and Gossip

Deborah Jones's study on women's oral culture, which she terms "gossip," categorizes it into four types:

House talk: Exchange of information related to the female domestic role.
Scandal: Judging others' behavior, particularly in terms of domestic morality.
Bitching: Private expression of women's anger at their restricted roles and status.
Chatting: Intimate form of gossip involving mutual self-disclosure.

Definition: Gossip, in this context, refers to various forms of women's communication that serve different social and emotional functions.

These categories provide insight into the gender differences in language examples and how women use language to navigate their social roles and express themselves.

Highlight: Jones's research suggests that women use different types of gossip as a means of coping with and responding to their social positions.

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Difference Model Research

Jennifer Coates and Jane Pilkington's studies highlight the cooperative nature of women's communication in same-sex conversations. Coates argues that gender-specific communication styles develop from childhood friendship groups.

Highlight: Coates theorizes that female language is cooperative in single-sex conversations, using tag questions and modality to create a supportive environment.

Pilkington's research found that women use positive politeness strategies and are more collaborative, complimentary, and supportive than men in same-sex conversations.

Quote: "Men pursue a style of interaction based on power, while women pursue a style based on solidarity and support" - Jennifer Coates

Coates identified key features of women's cooperative discourse:

Topic and topic development: Women focus on people and feelings, developing topics slowly and collaboratively.
Minimal responses: Subtle signals of active listening and support.
Hedges: Used to encourage discussion and avoid appearing threatening.
Questions: Interrogative forms used to encourage participation.
Turn-taking: Overlapping conversation aids cooperation and topic development.

Example: Women might use phrases like "maybe" or "kind of" (hedges) to soften their statements and encourage open discussion.

These findings support the Deborah Tannen theory on gender differences in communication styles, highlighting the contrast between men's tendency to dominate and control conversations and women's inclination to offer support through minimal responses.

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Diversity Model

Deborah Cameron's 2008 work introduces the Diversity Model, which critiques the idea of innate differences in male and female communication styles.

Highlight: Cameron's Diversity Model challenges the assumptions of the Difference Model, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of gender and language use.

This model represents a shift in thinking about language and gender differences in communication, emphasizing the importance of considering individual and contextual factors rather than assuming universal gender-based communication styles.

Example: The Diversity Model might consider how factors such as cultural background, education, and personal experiences influence an individual's communication style, rather than attributing differences solely to gender.

This approach aligns with more recent sociolinguistic perspectives that view language use as complex and multifaceted, influenced by a variety of social and individual factors beyond just gender.

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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Subjects

English Lang.

Language diversity & change

The importance of gendered language

Differences in How Boys and Girls Talk: Fun Examples and Theories

View

Aleksandra Golowska

@hola_soy_ola

166 Followers

Differences in How Boys and Girls Talk: Fun Examples and Theories

Key points:

Researchers have identified distinct communication styles between men and women
Women's language is often characterized as cooperative and supportive
Men's language tends to be more hierarchical and status-oriented
The Difference Model and Diversity Model offer contrasting perspectives on gender communication
Studies have examined various aspects of language use, including conversation styles, interruptions, and gossip

15/01/2023

1181

Report Talk and Rapport Talk

Deborah Tannen's research on gender differences in language use introduces the concepts of "report talk" (associated with men) and "rapport talk" (associated with women).

Definition: Report talk focuses on conveying information, while rapport talk aims to build relationships.

Tannen's comparison of male and female communication styles:

Women:

Talk more in private contexts
Build relationships
Overlap in conversation
Speak symmetrically

Men:

Get more air time in public settings
Negotiate status and avoid failure
Speak one at a time
Speak asymmetrically

Vocabulary: Overlapping - Supportive simultaneous speech, distinct from interruptions.

Tannen also introduces the concepts of high involvement and high considerateness speakers:

High involvement speakers show enthusiastic support, even through simultaneous speech.
High considerateness speakers are more concerned with being considerate to others and not imposing on the conversation.

Example: In the British House of Commons, there's a formal procedure for turn-taking, where speakers request permission to intervene with phrases like "Will you give way?"

This approach differs from the Dominance approach, suggesting that language is used differently by men and women but not necessarily to establish dominance.

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Women's Oral Culture and Gossip

Deborah Jones's study on women's oral culture, which she terms "gossip," categorizes it into four types:

House talk: Exchange of information related to the female domestic role.
Scandal: Judging others' behavior, particularly in terms of domestic morality.
Bitching: Private expression of women's anger at their restricted roles and status.
Chatting: Intimate form of gossip involving mutual self-disclosure.

Definition: Gossip, in this context, refers to various forms of women's communication that serve different social and emotional functions.

These categories provide insight into the gender differences in language examples and how women use language to navigate their social roles and express themselves.

Highlight: Jones's research suggests that women use different types of gossip as a means of coping with and responding to their social positions.

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Difference Model Research

Highlight: Coates theorizes that female language is cooperative in single-sex conversations, using tag questions and modality to create a supportive environment.

Pilkington's research found that women use positive politeness strategies and are more collaborative, complimentary, and supportive than men in same-sex conversations.

Quote: "Men pursue a style of interaction based on power, while women pursue a style based on solidarity and support" - Jennifer Coates

Coates identified key features of women's cooperative discourse:

Topic and topic development: Women focus on people and feelings, developing topics slowly and collaboratively.
Minimal responses: Subtle signals of active listening and support.
Hedges: Used to encourage discussion and avoid appearing threatening.
Questions: Interrogative forms used to encourage participation.
Turn-taking: Overlapping conversation aids cooperation and topic development.

Example: Women might use phrases like "maybe" or "kind of" (hedges) to soften their statements and encourage open discussion.

Sign up to get unlimited access to thousands of study materials. It's free!

Access to all documents

Join milions of students

Improve your grades

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Diversity Model

Deborah Cameron's 2008 work introduces the Diversity Model, which critiques the idea of innate differences in male and female communication styles.

Highlight: Cameron's Diversity Model challenges the assumptions of the Difference Model, suggesting a more nuanced understanding of gender and language use.

Example: The Diversity Model might consider how factors such as cultural background, education, and personal experiences influence an individual's communication style, rather than attributing differences solely to gender.

This approach aligns with more recent sociolinguistic perspectives that view language use as complex and multifaceted, influenced by a variety of social and individual factors beyond just gender.