language and gender differences between male and female speech noticed some time ago not studied...

Language and Gender

Differences between male and female speech noticed some time ago Not studied systematically until recentlySome are very obvious – pronounsOther differences are discovered by sociolinguistic research

Some gender differences

Reports of different male and female languages usually exaggerated differences in language shift different dialects or accents marrying out

Japanese

Japanese

different phonology, morphology and vocabulary

supposedly reflect the role of women as polite, gentle, passive

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Women’s form -- men’s form (traditional Japanese)

Otoosan oyaji (father)

Onaka hara (stomach)

Taberu kuu (eat)

Hlonipha

Hlonipha

Xhosa-speaking women must avoid syllables in their in-laws’ names

replaced with deletions, paraphrase, loan words

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Respect for husband’s family

inferior status of women

Result – a lot words used only by women

Language and gender in English

English – differences less obvious --phonologicalLinked to social class studies of language and social class also showed gender differencesApplies in many places in UK, US, Australia, new Zealand

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In NYC women used post-vocalic /r/ more oftenNorwich – women used –ing, men used –in more often Tyneside men used glottalised –p more often

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Verbal duelling – typically masculineYo momma – white chicksRap battles – Eight MileTurkish rhymed insultsEnglish football chants

Gender and Language change

Studies of linguistic change in Norwich, Engliand and Belfast, N Ireland

Men lead change from below

vernacular forms spread upwards – glottalisation in British English

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Women lead change from above

Introduce standard forms

Mrs Hall rather than Mizall in Leeds

Language and networks

Belfast – women worked outside community – introduced new forms from outside

Similar pattern among African Americans in South Carolina islands

Language and Identity

Language used to express identity but gender variation“Jocks” and “Burnouts” in Detroit suburban high schoolsidentified with suburbs and cityGender differences

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Burnout girls adopted urban rather than suburban forms but less than boysOccasionally used taboo words in single sex groups Boys frequentlyJock boys used taboo words in SSGs but not in front of women

Explanations of gender difference

Attempt to acquire social status by using standard forms – probably true of NYCWomen forced to use distinctive forms as a sign of inferiority –XhosaWomen as guardians of cultural values –unlikely to explain interaction with children

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Standard forms are considered polite – politeness is not required of superior groupsExpression of machismoGender sorting at a young age – differences appear at 6 in some casesProbably all true in different degrees in different places

Language and discourse

Men talk more than women, especially in publicMen interrupt women more than vice-versaWomen are more supportive of other speakers

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Women more likely to use hedgesMen more likely to use boostersWomen more likely to use compliments But problems of method and bias

Language and Discourse

Why is there no ‘K’ in J.K. Rowling’s birth certificate

Sexist language

Masculine gender to include womenNegative connotations of feminine wordsMaster -- mistressWorking girlSir – madamWizard – witchMany words for sexually promiscuous womenBut rent boy, toy boy

Non-sexist language

Movement especially in USHe becomes he or she Fireman – firefighterPoliceman – police officerMrs/miss becomes ms

Explanations

Physical – may explain intonation but not much elseGenetic – unpopular until recently --but research by Baron-Cohen – differences in male and female brains – systems vs relationships

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Social/ cultural Will explain many cases – group identity, social mobility, discriminationbut why so widespread?