Language & Gender

1. Language used by each gender

2. Language used to describe each gender

 Men and women differ in the linguistic expressions of their gender identity

Innate biological differences along with socio-cultural factors play a role Their distinct linguistic varieties are closely related to the social attitudes.
Men use language to be competitive Women use language to be cooperative

Robin Lakoffs Classification of womens language

1. It lacks resources that would enable women to express themselves strongly.
2. It encourages women to talk about trivial subjects. 3. It requires women to talk tentatively.

Difference in Style
Females
Careful in speaking

Males
Casual in speaking Speak roughly Less standard varieties used Dont talk at higher pitch Talk more and are less attentive Dont talk much on the same topic for long Interrupt more

Usually polite Stick to prestige or standard forms Talk at a higher pitch Listen more Can talk for hours on same topic Interrupt less

Difference in Language
Females
Talk of topics about their interest Share feelings and disclose personal information Tag insertion Talk in italics Use weak expletives Use Womens adjectives Statements in question form More polite directive speech acts

Males
Talk on general and varied topics Rarely talk about themselves or their personal matters Sure of what they say Quite direct Strong expletives Use neutral adjectives Less polite directive speech acts

Some more differences

Males generally have more jokes in their speech as compared to females. Females tend to phrase their arguments in terms of group needs rather than personal terms as contrary to males Males issue commands to other boys rather than suggest what should be done.

Stereotypes against womens speech

A womens tongue wags like a lambs tail. Foxes are all tail and women are all tongue. Where woman is, silence is not.

All the Daddies on the bus go read, read..All the mummies on the bus go chatter, chatter.

What gender comes to your mind?

Nurse Doctor Police officer Teacher Professor

 Sometimes a word explicitly marking the referent as male or female is added. Male nurse Lady doctor Family man Career woman

Naming convention
Address for men, Mr., regardless of marital status. Address for women, Miss and Mrs. Based on marital status. Feminists coined address form Ms. Ms. Form misinterpreted, for e.g. Canada, Pennsylvania, Wimbledon tennis matches

Specific to cultures
Mostly believed that only men have right to the permanency of their names.
In Greece, married women take possessive form of husbands name. In Arabia, women are referred to as wife of In China, no names for women, referred to as third daughter little sister In Iceland, Children carry names as Johns son Johns daughter In Pakistan????

Martynas (1993) he/man approach

The use of male terms to refer to both males in particular and human beings in general. E.g. man, man-to-man, brotherhood, chairman.. Man has learned to control his environment. This discovery will benefit all mankind. Jamila and her brother Jamshed will serve as chairmen of major committees.

Using Non-sexist language

Example Mankind Man-made The common man Chairman Businessman Fireman Mailman Policeman & Policewomen Steward & Stewardess Congressman Alternative Humanity, people, human beings Synthetic, manufactured, machine-made The average person, ordinary people Chairperson, presiding officer Business executive Firefighter Mail Carrier Police officer Flight attendant Congressional representative

Avoid using masculine pronouns

The average student is worried about his grade. The average student is worried about grades. Everyone should do his best. Everyone should do ones best. Each student will do better if he has a voice in the decision. Each student will do better if he or she has a voice in the decision. When everyone contributes his ideas the decision will be a success. When everyone contributes their own ideas, the discussion will be a success.

Negative connotations associated with gender specific terms

Bachelor vs. Spinster Governor vs. Governess Master vs. Mistress
Professional