How do I use theory for Language and Gender?

 First of all, consider the different approaches taken by theorists. 

Once you know the approaches and understand what they mean, start to look at particular theorists that belong to each approach.

Condense these theorists into a list and decide what their line of argument is. 

Once each approach has a theorist, and each theorist has a line of argument, ask yourself who disagrees with this theorist? Or who supports their view? 

Once you have a clear idea of the approach; theorists; their viewpoints; and whether or not particular theorists support or contradict one another, you can begin to use theory in your Language and Gender essays or exams. 

For example: 

1) Difference Approach:

What does it mean?

Language exists for men and women

Langugae is accessed on different levels

Who are the theorists?

Jennifer Coates 1986

Gossip, House Talk, Scandal, Bitching, Chatting.

Women derived own form of language for same sex conversations

Herriman 1998

Cobuild Corpus of 50 million words

Physical attractiveness = women

Height, personality, ability = men

Deborah Tannen 1990

Status vs support

Advice vs understanding

Information vs feelings

Orders vs proposals

Conflict vs compromise

Independence vs intimacy

Critics that disagree-

DEBORAH CAMERON

- disagrees that men are more competitive in speech

- disagrees that women do not challenge each other

- both genders gossip about others, not just women

- women use gossip as a source of power to talk to other

2) Dominance Approach:

Men have access to language due to patriarchal order

Men dominate language

Candace West and Don Zimmerman

-11 conversations. Men 46 interruptions. Women 2 interruptions

-Men dominate conversation

However it was a small, unrepresentative sample

Dale spender

Women are disadvantaged as they have to express themselves through male's language

Critics that disagree-

Geoffrey Beattie-

May have one voluble man having disproportionate effect on total

Own study showed equilibrium between men and women in interruptions

Interruptions don’t reflect dominance but interest and involvement

 3) Deficit Approach:

Women use language features that portray subordinate role

Robin Lakoff (1975)

edging- uncertainty and lack of authority e.g. ‘sort of’

Super polite forms – ‘If you don’t mine please may you..’

Hypercorrect grammar and pronunciation- e.g. women avoid ‘ain’t’ or double negatives

Tag questions – show that women want approval from their utterances e.g. ‘I’m coming with you, all right?’

Speaking in italics – women use exaggerated intonation or stress for emphasis

Empty adjectives approval

Use of implication- Lakoff claimed women use this because they do not feel the authority to give orders e.g. ‘it’s cold in here, isn’t it’ instead of ‘shut the window’

Sense of humour lacking

Speak less frequently

Avoid coarse language of expletives

Peter Trudgill

-f ound that women chose to use overt prestige

- men used covert

- women adheres to the assumptions of Lakoff

Critics that disagree-

Pamela Fishman

-questions are attributes of interaction

            - shows power

            - not insecurity and hesitancy as Lakoff suggests

Deborah Cameron

-recognises women often challenge others

-disagrees with Lakoff that women keep a low profile in conversation