Language and gender Introduction to sociolinguistics Why can’t a woman be more like a man? - My Fair Lady Reality check (1) • women - talk more • men - swear more, don't than men, talk too talk about emotions, talk much, are more polite, about sport more, talk are indecisive/hesitant, about women and complain and nag, ask machines in the same way, more questions, insult each other frequently, support each other, are competitive in are more co-operative conversation, dominate conversation, speak with more authority, give more commands, interrupt more. Living Language (2000) by George Keith and John Shuttleworth Women’s language (Lakoff, 1975) • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Hedge: using phrases like “sort of”, “kind of”, “it seems like”,and so on. Use (super)polite forms: “Would you mind...”,“I'd appreciate it if...”, “...if you don't mind”. Use tag questions: “You're going to dinner, aren't you?” Speak in italics: intonational emphasis equal to underlining words - so, very, quite. Use empty adjectives: divine, lovely, adorable, and so on Use hypercorrect grammar and pronunciation: English prestige grammar and clear enunciation. Use direct quotation: men paraphrase more often. Have a special lexicon: women use more words for things like colours, men for sports. Use question intonation in declarative statements: women make declarative statements into questions by raising the pitch of their voice at the end of a statement, expressing uncertainty. For example, “What school do you attend? Eton College?” Use “wh-” imperatives: (such as, “Why don't you open the door?”) Speak less frequently Overuse qualifiers: (for example, “I Think that...”) Apologise more: (for instance, “I'm sorry, but I think that...”) Use modal constructions: (such as can, would, should, ought - “Should we turn up the heat?”) Avoid coarse language or expletives Use indirect commands and requests: (for example, “My, isn't it cold in here?” - really a request to turn the heat on or close a window) Use more intensifiers: especially so and very (for instance, “I am so glad you came!”) Lack a sense of humour: women do not tell jokes well and often don't understand the punch line of jokes. Reality check Fact: Women use more standard speech forms than men. Why? A1: The social status • Women are status-conscious – The way they speak shows their social class or social status. A2: Women’s role • The society expects ‘better’ behavior from women than from women. A3: Subordinate groups must be polite • Women as a subordinate group – Avoid offending men. – Use polite speech – Protect women’s ‘face’. A4: machismo • Vernacular forms express machismo. A5: Contextual factor • A reflection of women’s sensibility to contextual factors. – Standard speech in formal contexts. MEN-WOMEN INTERACTIONS General Styles • Men tend to be more competitive and less supportive of others • Women are more cooperative. Interruptions • In cross-gender interactions, almost all the interruptions were from men. – In meetings – In doctor-patient interactions – Parents and children • Pre-school boys interrupt too. – Women are socialized from early childhood to expect to be interrupted. Feedback • Women provide more encouraging feedback. Women’s gossip • Description – Easy and idle in-group talk in informal contexts • Function – To affirm solidarity – To maintain the social relstionships Linguistic features of the gossip • Propositions which express feelings are often intensified. • Complete each other’s utterances, agree frequently, and provide supportive feedback. “Gossip is good for women's health.” • “The research reveals a woman is happier and healthier if she enjoys a regular chat with her female friend because it boosts levels of progesterone, a hormone shown to reduces levels of anxiety and stress.” (The Telegraph, June 10, 2009) – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/women_shealth/ 5496680/Gossip-is-good-for-womens-healthscientists-claim.html The construction of gender • Gender identity – Women adapt to masculine contexts – Men adapt to feminine contexts. Sexism in language We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal - Declaration of Independence, 1776. Sexism in language • Generic ‘he’ and ‘man’ – Man has been civilized for centuries. He no longer needs to hunt for food for his women and children. • The male form is unmarked; the female form is marked. – Prince; princess. • Animal/food imagery – Bitch, chick, – Sugar, honey, sweetie