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:

1. Talk more in private contexts
2. Build relationships
3. Overlap in conversation
4. Speak symmetrically

Men:

1. Get more air time in public settings
2. Negotiate status and avoid failure
3. Speak one at a time
4. 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.

Women's Oral Culture and Gossip

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

1. House talk: Exchange of information related to the female domestic role.
2. Scandal: Judging others' behavior, particularly in terms of domestic morality.
3. Bitching: Private expression of women's anger at their restricted roles and status.
4. 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.

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.

Page 5: Women's Oral Culture

Deborah Jones's analysis of women's oral culture provides insight into different types of female communication, particularly relevant to gender differences in language use.

Definition: House talk - Exchange of information related to female domestic roles Definition: Scandal - Judgment of others' behavior through the lens of domestic morality Definition: Bitching - Private expression of women's frustration with restricted roles Definition: Chatting - Intimate form of gossip involving mutual self-disclosure

Highlight: Deborah Cameron's Diversity Model challenges the notion of innate gender differences in communication.

Page 5: Women's Oral Culture

Deborah Jones's research on women's communication patterns introduces different categories of female discourse, contributing to gender differences in language examples.

Definition: Categories of women's oral culture:

• House talk: Information exchange related to female domestic roles
• Scandal: Moral judgment of others' behavior
• Bitching: Private expression of frustration about gender roles

Page 6: Critical Perspectives on Gender Communication

The page presents Cameron's critique of traditional gender differences in language use research, challenging established theories by Lakoff, Fishmann, and Tannen.

Highlight: Cameron argues that stereotypes about male and female communication have shaped societal expectations and perpetuated myths about gender-specific linguistic behavior.

Quote: "These myths have acted to shape our expectations of men and women and the type of linguistic behaviour that we deem to be normal or deviant."

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:

1. Topic and topic development: Women focus on people and feelings, developing topics slowly and collaboratively.
2. Minimal responses: Subtle signals of active listening and support.
3. Hedges: Used to encourage discussion and avoid appearing threatening.
4. Questions: Interrogative forms used to encourage participation.
5. 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.