7/28/2019 2006 Gender Language

1/2

Gender Studies Gender and J apanese Language Katsukata =Inafuku

I Gender Politics in Making the Standard J apanese in Meiji RestorationI- 1 There is a cultural tradition that prescribes the appropriate behavior expected of J apanese men andwomen, characterized by the use/avoidance of formalistic words, scarcity/abundance of expressions conveying

respect, politeness, and courtesy, a manner of speaking, a low/high-pitched voice, rare/frequent use of

honorific, and special verb forms and sentence constructions.

I- 2In the modern period heralded by the establishment of the new Meiji Government in 1868, the ideologyof gender equality and equal education for girls and boys ( 1872) enjoyed support initially, but, with

the ascendancy of the more conservative forces, an increasingly sex-differentiated education was promoted (

1880) within the state-controlled system of public education that persisted right up through WWII.

Emphasis on moral education and education for Good Wife and Wise Mother served to maintain the value

placed on the proper usage of a distinctively womens language.

I- 2- (1) Transition of Feminine Speech Style1)Womens Languageas a Feature of J apanese (cf.Aspects of Sexism in Language inJ apanese Women)2) Historical Development of Womens Language

3) Women s language Today:

I- 2- (2) The Diversity and Gender Specific usage of the First/Second Person Pronoun in J apanese

I- 2- (3) Comparison on diction (1776-1822) (1867-1916) the end words such as vs.

27 kinds of words have diminished into kinds

women specific diction

II From Essentialism to Social Constructionism----Engender Degender through LanguageII - Paradigm change: From Essentialism to Social Constructionism

(1) Linguistic Turn: Ferdinand de Saussure(1857-1913) has changed the Traditional Language Theory:Languageas a neutral reflection of reality, anda trustworthyvehicle in the representation of reality

(Course in General Linguistics, 1916)(2) The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Language as Projections of CultureWe dissect nature along lines laid down by our native languages. The categories and types that we

isolate from the world of phenomena we don not find there because they stare every observer in theface; on the contrary, the world is presented in a kaleidoscopic flux of impressions which has to beorganized by our minds---and this means largely by the linguistic systems in our minds.(Whorf, 1956)

II - Language and GenderEngendering through language Socialization =Internalization of gender attributes

1) Language Makes Human Consciousness, Not Vice VersaMan-made language (Language and Reality: who made the world? By Dale Spender)

2) Meanings are highly contextualized dependent on that environment and those people, subject tovariation and change. By Deborah Cameron

7/28/2019 2006 Gender Language

2/2

3) Language as discourse cf. performativity agencyReversing the Gender Politics Repetition and/or Subversion of the Gender Prescribed Norm

Cf. Women who use male speech, Men who use feminine speech style

II - Secret Language of women in Ancient ChinaWomens script was used over 1,000 years ago as a way for women to secretly communicate, give support

and pass wisdom when only men were publicly allowed to read and write. J apan Times, J uly 2, 1998

III From Non-Sexist Language to Bias-Free LanguageIII- Revision of Dictionary Avoiding Sexist Language, toward bias-free language

female:a gentle kind of human being who gives birth to a child and takes care of it

male: a strong kind of human being who works mainly outside of the house.

cf ( ) ( ) III- 2 Beyond the He Man Approach DegenderingIII- 2- (1) Historical background: Controversy over the He Man Approach in Harvard University

The he/man approach to language involves the use of male terms to refer both specifically to males

and genetically to human beings. The man is characterized as an unmarked and represents bothmale & female, the woman is characterized as a markedand represents female only.

III- 2 - (2) From the Editors Note ofRandom House Websters College Dictionary, 1991 Replacing man or men, or words or expressions containing either, when they are clearly intended torefer to a person of either sex or to include members of both sexes.

man human being, human, person, individual

mankind, man(collectively) humankind, humanity, people, men and women Using gender-neutral terms wherever possible to designate occupations, positions, roles, etc.rather than terms that specify sex. (A full list of nonsexist job designations can be found in

theDictionary of Occupational Titles, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, in 1975.anchorman anchor

businessman businessperson, business executive, manager, business owner, retailer,

Referring to members of both sexes by parallel terms, names, or titles.man and wife husband and wife

President J ohnson and Mrs. Meir President J ohnson and Prime Minister Meir,

Avoiding the third person singular masculine pronoun when referring to an individual who could be ofeither sex.

When a reporter covers a controversial story, he has a responsibility

When reporters cover controversy stories they have the responsibility

Avoiding language that disparages, stereotypes, or patronizes either sex.layers/doctors/farmers and their wife lawyers and their spouses

a teacher and her students a teacher and his or her students

womanly, manly, feminine, masculinestrength or weakness, nurturing, determination, sensibility

III- Degendering through language1) ( 1996)

2) ( 1996)

avoiding woman article( ) gender fair parallel treatment inclusiveness bias free