Difference theory language and gender pdf

Gender theory is the study of what is understood as masculine and or feminine and or queer behavior in any given context, community, society, or field of study including, but not limited to, literature, history, sociology, education, applied linguistics, religion, health sciences, philosophy, cultural studies. It is argued that language both reflects and maintains gender divisions in society. Since the publication of lakoffs classic work, language and womans place, in 1975, linguists have approached language and gender from a variety of perspectives. The relation between language and gender has become one of the. This could be through speech patterns or behaviour towards or around women. To further studies on language and gender and even before examining the. Oct 01, 2007 it is a truism that men and women do not communicate in the same way. Gender differences in the use of linguistic forms in the.

Old letters, novels, diaries and poems provide us with evidence of folk linguistic beliefs regarding gender differences in language. It was not until the midst 70s when robin lakoffs essay language and womans place was released, science about gender and language was established lakoff, 1975. Lessons from the israeli kibbutz judith buber agassi because the israeli kibbutz is innovative in collective ownership, production, consumption, and child care, and in part also because it is erroneously assumed to have. Chapter i language and gender our individual speech does not free us in any simple way from the ideological constraints of our culture since it is through that forms that articulate those constraints that we speak in the first place. Theories about gender and spoken language the forms and functions of talk in studying language you must study speech but in studying language and gender you can apply what you have learned about speech but with gender as a variable do men and women show any broad differences in the way they use spoken language. Gender language differences explanations gender gender language differences.

While difference theory deals with cross gender communication, the male and female genders are often presented as being two separate cultures, hence the relevance of gumperzs studies. Cambridge university press, 1996 in the first phase of language gender research, many of us were eager to piece together an overall portrayal of differences in the speech of women and men. According to the difference theory men and women, even those within the same group, live in different or separate cultural worlds and, as a result, they promote different ways of speaking uchida, 1992. In addition, average gender differences are indicated in childrens and adults uses of. The study of gender differences in the use of linguistic forms. According this theory, crossgender communication is considered as crosscultural. Introduction sex and gender gender differences in language use conclusion 3. Key concepts hegemonic masculinity patriarchal dividend. The promise and problems of this shift within ideas about gender are the subject of. It is easy because many students find it interesting, and want to find support for their own developing or established views. The studies have also generated puzzling anomalies. Historically, the terms sex and gender have been used interchangeably, but their uses are becoming increasingly distinct, and it is important to understand the differences between the two.

There is no original or primary gender a drag imitates, but gender is a kind of. But is there really any evidence to support this marsandvenus theory. Firstly, we discuss the most important theory belonging in the inner layer. Pdf gender differences in using language marleny rosario. The first is associated with dale spender, pamela fishman, don zimmerman and candace west, while the second is associated with deborah tannen. Rebecca freeman and bonnie mcelhinny, language and gender. Pdf gender language differences do men and women really. It investigates the major linguistic differences between men and women speech by examining the validity of the conversational. Gender differences in the use of linguistic forms in the speech of men and women.

Biological factors play an important part in determining and categorizing us as male or female. Cultural dimensions that reflect di fferences in gender roles, but also elements. But is there really any evidence to support this mars and venus theory. In line with gender theory more generally, researchers interested in language and gender have focused increasingly on plurality and diversity amongst female and male language users, and on gender as performativesomething that is done in context, rather than a fixed attribute. English and other languages have inherent gender biases e. Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory of gender. Studying language and gender is easy and hard at the same time. Theory and practice longman, 1996, and author of various articles that have appeared in language in society, the journal of pragmatics, and others.

There is a deferment of meaning with each act of rereading. In order to find some possible answers about gender differences in language one has to go back in time and look at the historical background. Gender theory is the study of what is understood as masculine andor feminine andor queer behavior in any given context, community, society, or field of study including, but not limited to, literature, history, sociology, education, applied linguistics, religion, health sciences, philosophy, cultural studies. Rethinking study in language and gender by nina eliasoph hundreds of empirical studies in the past several years have documented the existence of gender inequalities in language use. Each stage represents a different level of understanding that a child goes through during development. Overall, the interpretation of gender differences in language use and the extent to which such differences are emphasized in the first place. Three theories of language and gender sunday, 12 april 2015. But this is a far more limited claim than that made by dale spender, who identifies power with a male patriarchal order the theory of dominance. Difference theory has roots in the studies of john gumperz, who examined differences in crosscultural communication. The study of gender and language in sociolinguistics and gender studies is often said to have begun with robin lakoffs 1975 book, language and womans place, as well as some earlier studies by lakoff. Differance and deconstruction are attempts to understand this web of language, to search, in derridas words, for the other of language. Gender studies, feminist studies and sociolinguistic studies all. Because gender theory called attention to language, social history even of the working classes or of ethnic groups took on many aspects of and sometimes merged with cultural history.

Language and gender the difference theory sssfc english. This paper mainly discussed the differences from the aspects of pronunciation, intonation, vocabulary, syntax, manners, attitudes, and nonverbal differences. The analysis of age and generationspecific use of language used to be seen as relatively straightforward, but a series of publications since the 1990s have problematised this area of research and put into question distinctions that had previously been taken for granted. Kohlbergs cognitive developmental theory of gender is divided into three stages, the first being gender identity, the second being gender stability, and the third gender constancy. Language and gender is language and gender is an area of study within sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and related fields that investigates varieties of speech associated with a particular gender, or social norms for such gendered language use. On gender difference in english language and its causes. This paper will attempt to find out the relationship between gender and language and mentions briefly the main sociolinguistic approaches used in the study of gender and language. The handbook of language variation and change edited by j. However, life in a postmodern, increasingly technological world seems to rely ever less on physical distinctions based on procreation and physical dimorphism, by which men outsize and overpower women. It is everpresent in conversation, humor, and conflict, and it is called upon to explain everything from driving styles to food preferences. Her book you just dont understand state there are six differences between men and women. The study consists of a written dialogue where certain attributes are implemented in order to test different theories presented in this essay.

Gender bound language, gender differences, hedge, tag question, intensifier, persian, english, difference theory, dominance theory. Cora kaplan language is the most powerful medium of. An investigation into politeness, small talk and gender rebecca bayles n this essay i will explore small talk as a form of linguistic politeness and question the accuracy of the stereotypical association of small talk with women. Oxford language professor deborah cameron investigates. Gender similarities and differences in language oxford. Our sex depends on whether we are born with distinct male or female genitals and a genetic program that released male or female hormones to stimulate the development of the reproductive system. Voyer university of new brunswick a female advantage in school marks is a common finding in education research, and it extends to most course subjects e. The social constructionist theory of gender assumes gender. A gender difference is a disparity between male and female run2. This other of language is close to what anglophone philosophy calls the reference of a word.

When the sociology of gender emerged, inequalities between women and men were the focus. Discussion of womens relative lack of access to wealth and other resources was gradually overtaken by concerns with language and meaning. The paper investigated gender difference in achievement goals and performance in english language and mathematics of senior secondary schools students in borno state, nigeria. Gender differences in achievement goals and performances. The first part begins with the relationship between language and gender, the second describes variation in language use across gender, the third part talks about gender revolution in society and the final part discuss about how gender shapes social relationship.

Gender differences in achievement goals and performances in. Witkins theory on field independence is frequently used in research on gender and learning. Current issues and new directions deborah cameron university of oxford sociolinguistic and some applied linguistic research dealing with questions of gender and sexuality has undergone signi. Gender difference has entered into english language studies as a linguistic variable for a long time. Studies in the area of language and gender often make use of two models or paradigms that of dominanceand that of difference. That is, men and women, as well as boys and girls, are more alike than they are different. The focus of this research is in the area of language and gender. The dominance and difference approaches kate mitchell. Genderrelated differences in language use diva portal. There are some theories that have been proposed related to this concern such as the deficit theory, the dominance theory, the radical. While difference theory deals with crossgender communication, the male and female genders are often presented as being two separate cultures, hence the relevance of gumperzs studies. While difference theory deals with cross gender communication, the male and female genders are.

Language and gender revision booklet southam college. I will begin with an examination of politeness, in particular the model devised by brown and levinson 1987. Theories and methodologies in language and gender research. Gender difference is not only a reflection of the speeches. The difference theory was also summarized in tannens book you just dont understand 1990 in an article in which she represents male and female language. The study specifically sought to determine gender differences in students academic performances in english language, mathematics and overall. Witkin defined field independence as using oneself as the primary. The biological theory defines gender in terms of biological sex resulting in polarized and static language differences based on sex. Based on the difference theory men and women, even those within the. In terms of effect sizes, the gender similarities hypothesis states that most psychological gender differences are in the closeto. Making the difference, robert ellrodts study of seven poetsspringing from his wideranging threevolume work, les poetes metaphysiques anglaischallenges the postmodernist assumption that no. An investigation into politeness, small talk and gender. They cited in uchida 1992 that the difference theory contends that men and women who are of the same group will promote different ways of speaking if they live in different environment and culture.

Language and the womans place 1975 sexist language shift to gender differences in discource dale spender, 1980. The dominance approach was created by robin lakoff 1975 who proposed that men are naturally more dominant than women. She believes the difference starts in childhood, where parents use more words about feelings to girls and use more verbs to boys. Gender differences are the typical differences between men and women. Gender is embedded so thoroughly in our institutions, our actions, our.

It is very easy to gather evidence to inform the study of language and gender. It is a truism that men and women do not communicate in the same way. For instance, worker autobiographies, seen as suspect in the 1970s because of their elite and exceptional nature, had new possibilities with the validation of. Chambers, peter trudgill, and natalie schillingestes the handbook of historical linguistics edited by brian d. Social cognitive theory of gender development and differentiation kay bussey albert bandura macquarie university stanford university abstract human differentiation on the basis of gender is a fundamental phenomenon that affects virtually every aspect of peoples daily lives. The differences between men and women in using language have been studied long time before.

Some of studies focus on the differences between language that is spoken by men. The handbook of language and gender linguistics network. But even in such societies, categories that go beyond the basic two are often seen as anomalous. From stereotypes of gender difference to stereotypes of.

Dec 10, 20 the two most notable approaches in language and gender are the dominance approach and the difference approach. The following research study investigates the extent to which gender can be identified as a determining factor in language variance in unacquainted femalemale group interaction. This article presents the social cognitive theory of. As one of the popular fields in sociolinguistics, explorations on gender difference in english language and other languages as well have experienced a period of gradual development. According to difference theories sometimes called twoculture theories, men and women inhabit different cultural and. Apr 12, 2015 difference theory deborah tannen believes the reason there is a difference in language between men and women is because parents used words of emotion to girls and verbs to boys. There are some differences between the language of men and that of women, and no education or social conditioning can wholly erase these differences. The handbook of language and gender edited by janet holmes and miriam meyerhoff the handbook of second language acquisition.

The research on gender and language in the workplace falls primarily into 2 categories, based on the work roles of, and relationships among, speakers. Here are some of the key findings about how men and women use language differently. She says men and women belong to different subcultures. Toward a comprehensive theory of language and gender. Uk differences in conversational styles actually turn out to disandvantage women, contributing to women being effectively silenced. Pairing computational methods and social theory thus offers a new perspective on how gender emerges as individuals position themselves relative to audiences, topics, and mainstream gender norms. Difference theory deborah tannen believes the reason there is a difference in language between men and women is because parents used words of emotion to girls and verbs to boys. Key concepts queer theory heterosexual matrix performativity. An introduction to gender we are surrounded by gender lore from the time we are very small.

Two competing theories have evolved to explain language differences between men and women. Language production will be considered both between and within gender groups and in relation to potential frameworks of dominance and difference and diversity. Gender and language studies to date have evolved from frameworks largely designed and imposed by men, to a feminist perspective aimed at exposing sexism in language and further to studies that consider paradigms of dominance and difference in language from a variety of perspectives. At first, gender was regarded as a sociolinguistic variable, just like social class, age, ethnicity and social status. The analyses are taken from four different articles. These can be labelled the deficit approach, the dominance approach, the difference approach, and the. The study was based on the a hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement goals motivation propounded. The exaggeration of differences, which we call alpha bias.