Notes (Language + Gender)

The Deficit Approach

Robin Lakoff (Lack of): Female language is seen as deicient in some way to the established male norm. The use of specialised vocabulary centred around domestic chores.

• Precise colour terms (turquoise, teal, magneta)
• Weak expletive terms (oh dear)
• Empty adjectives (nice, sweet, charming)
• Tag questions (isn't it?, doesn't she?)
• The use of hedges (sort of, you know)
• Intesifiers (so, very)

Socialisation (demographic) played an important role in ensuring that female language remained less assertive and more insecure when compared to that of men and so the differences were more socially constructed than biologically based.

Janet Holmes: Tag questions are used by a speaker with uncertainty, to help discussion or politeness.

Example: Now you fully understand that, don't you?

Debra Tannen: In the media the television programmes promote and show conflice. This is what the viewers want to watch. Men and women are becoming more argumentative. A conversation is based on how you speak (part of psychology). Men may not interrupt a female's conversation to get glory and be the center of attention, but to continue the woman's sentences because he's showing his support, to be included.

The Dominance Approach

Zimmerman & West: Men dominate conversations.

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The Difference Approach 

Men and women are different, that's just how society has fallen. The genders use language for different reasons. Women use language to make points, solve problems, to bond and form relationships with other people. Whereas men prefer to use language and discussing their emotional problems when wanting to find a solution.

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Theorists: Jennifer Coats, Jane Pilkington, Koenraad Kuiper (Find more information)