Theories for Explaining Linguistic Behaviour in Gender Interaction

Language and Gender

Essay , 2006 , 10 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics

Already in the 1960s and 70s have feminist linguistics started to examine language on the basis of gender questions. Numerous works focused on the problem whether women are discriminated through a more powerful “male” language use and how sexist language might be avoided. Within the subject, several different theories arose. This essay will at first demonstrate the development process of two main theories dealing with gender and language (the so called dominance and the difference-theory) and afterwards assess their adequacy in explaining linguistic behaviour in gender interaction. In 1973, Robin LAKOFF, a feminist linguist at the University of California, laid the foundations for a methodical and academic research on the subject of women’s language. Her most important works Language and Woman’s Place and Women’s Language threw light upon the possibility of discrimination through language use. A very important example for such a case might be LAKOFF’s observation of the way how women see themselves and which role they are holding within the American society. Thus, LAKOFF does not only examine the specific language used by women, but also the language used about women . Since language is guided by our thoughts, she considers it to be a mirror of the speaker’s subconsciousness . In order to investigate this phenomenon more closely, LAKOFF scrutinized her own expressions as well as expressions of friends and acquaintances. Furthermore, she analysed conversations in the television programme. As the field of this small study was very restricted, no universality is claimed for its results , but as an outcome, several criteria are established that are seen as typical for women’s language. These standards are as follows:

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Theories for Explaining Linguistic Behaviour in Gender Interaction
• The Development of Two Main Theories
• Robin LAKOFF's Deficit-Theory
• ZIMMERMANN and WEST's Approach
• O'BARR and ATKINS' Sociolinguistic Approach
• The Dominance-Theory
• The Difference-Theory

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the development of two main theories dealing with gender and language: the dominance theory and the difference theory. It then assesses their adequacy in explaining linguistic behavior in gender interaction.

• The development of the deficit theory and its limitations
• The emergence of the dominance theory and its emphasis on power structures
• The difference theory and its focus on distinct linguistic styles
• The importance of considering social context and individual variation in language use
• The need to distinguish between biological sex and socially constructed gender

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The Development of Two Main Theories: This section introduces Robin Lakoff's deficit theory, which posits that women's language is inherently weaker and less powerful than men's. It then discusses Zimmermann and West's approach, which focuses on overlaps and interruptions in conversations to assess gender differences in communication. Finally, it examines O'Barr and Atkins' sociolinguistic approach, which challenges the deficit theory by arguing that language use is more influenced by social context and individual power dynamics than by gender.
• The Dominance-Theory: This section discusses the dominance theory, which argues that men's greater power in society leads them to use more powerful language. It acknowledges the limitations of both the deficit and dominance theories in failing to adequately account for individual variation and the complex interplay of social factors.
• The Difference-Theory: This section explores the difference theory, which proposes that men and women have distinct linguistic styles and that these differences are not necessarily indicative of power imbalances. It emphasizes the need to consider the diversity of language use within and across genders.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This essay focuses on the key concepts of gender and language, exploring theories such as the deficit theory, dominance theory, and difference theory. It examines the relationship between language use, power dynamics, and social context, highlighting the importance of individual variation and the need to distinguish between biological sex and socially constructed gender.

• College: Queen's University Belfast (School of English)
• Course: Sociolinguistics
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Jan H. Hauptmann (Author)
• Publication Year: 2006
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V118364
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640215256
• ISBN (Book): 9783640215263
• Language: English
• Tags: Theories, Sociolinguistics, Difference-Theory, Dominance-Theory, Lionel Tiger, Deficit-Theory, Joan Swann, William O'Bar, Robin Lakoff