Language and Gender theories
Dominance theory -
The dominance theory, associated with Don Zimmerman, Candace West, Pamela Fisherman, is the theory that men are more likely to interrupt than women. This concludes that due to being more interruptive they are more dominant as opposed to women, on the other hand interruptions could possibly "reflect interest and involvement". Pamela Fisherman goes on to say how conversations between sexes can sometimes fail, not because of women, but because of the way men respond, or don't respond.
Difference theory - Deborah Tannen
The difference theory, is the idea that women's and men's speech isn't the same as each other. She says that there are six different contrasts that represent male and female language.
Status vs. Support - Men grow up trying not to let others dominate them in speech while women like to gain support for their ideas
Independence vs. Intimacy - Men tend to focus on independence while women think in terms of closeness and support and struggle to preserve intimacy
Advice vs. Understanding - To many men a complaint is a challenge to find a solution, e.g. woman not feeling well tells husband, husband says to go to the doctor while the woman wanted sympathy
Information vs. Feelings - Men more likely to tell information while women say their feelings
Orders vs. Proposals - Men more likely use and also prefer to hear direct imperatives, while women are usually indirect
Conflict vs. Compromise - Men more likely to assert themselves as opposed to women
Jennifer Coates and Deborah Jones -
Women's conversations are split into four different categories.
House talk - exchange of information and resources connected with the female role
Scandal- judging other people, especially women
Bitching - women's anger at their inferior status, they only 'bitch' to other women and in private, they don't expect change but just want to be understood
Chatting - a form of 'gossip'
Bibliography -
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/lang/gender.htm#dominance
Some good research. Check how what Fishman said relates to dominance again - she suggested the need for women to ask tag questions was because of men's superior status and their tendancy not to respond without being asked a direct question. The categories of women's speech are useful because you can usually find something on the exam paper that relates to them but you must be sure to challenge the research.
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