时间：2022-10-29 08:53:56
Abstract:By attempting to explore the differences in language between male and female, this essay first aims to introduce a description about the differences between men and women’s language. After that, it analyzes how language is used to disclose the significance of the language and gender study. Due to the understanding the nature and role of gender in a particular language, it is acknowledged that both gender differences and developing societies are all responsible for the differences between male and female language. When it comes to foreign language teaching, teachers should raise students’ awareness and consider the differences between male and female language in order to make communication smoothly and effectively.
Keywords: differences, language, male and female
摘要:
男性语言和女性语言有很多差异,本文在主要分析男性语言和女性语言的差异的同时,简要论述了造成这些差异的原因。
关键词:差异,语言,男性和女性
Introduction
Language and gender refers to that language which is usually used by men and women or that which is characteristic of gender differences. The topic of which has attracted more and more scholars since the beginning of the western women’s rights movement. Looking beyond biological differences to socially constructed differences, at first, this essay attempts to introduce a description of the differences between men and women’s language and then analyzes how language is used to disclose the significance of the language and gender study.
Differences
The differences between male and female language are reflected not only in language structures such as pronunciation, intonation, and sentence structures, but also in language conversation and communication. Detailed illustrations in these aspects are as follows:
To begin with, phonological difference or pronunciation variation can be a significant sign concerning aspects of speakers’ social identify, such as gender [1]. For example, women utilize standard language to communicate. They not only notice the appropriate word pronunciation, but also pay more attention to standard language than men do. Women utilize more socially prestigious speech than men [2]. In other words, women use more correct or standard speech than men do [3]. Secondly, female speakers tend to have a wider range in their intonation. For example, compared with men, women are fond of rising intonation on declaratives, such as “A: ‘When will dinner be ready?’ B: ‘Six o’clock?’ ” [4]. To conclude, women speech follows the standard criteria more than men’s.
Yet, despite all the phonological differences between men and women’s speech, the sentence structures can also show different language characteristics between males and females. In the first place, it seems that men are more direct speakers in using “judgmental adjectives (It’s good to…) and directives (Write this down.)”, whereas women are likely to indirect speech such as “uncertainty verbs (I’m not sure) and questions (What do you think?)” [5]. Therefore, the features of male language are that it is more direct, succinct, personal and instrumental whereas the majority of female features are more indirect, elaborate and affective [5]. Furthermore, in a sense, it may seem obvious that women utilize more so-called stables variables when they are speaking; however, currently, men are frequently more conservative than women in their use of variables [1]. For example, women will use the negative concord like “I didn’t do anything” which seems more strange than normal; while men are more likely to say “I didn’t do nothing” which is a standard speech [1]. In summary, men’s speech is more straightforward, although men sometimes will keep conservative nowadays.
Apart from the contrast at sentence level, the differences in communication are also clear and worth researching. To begin with, women are more conservative than men and more polite [3] in their speech. For instance, tag questions can be defined as the fragment of a question to an ordinary declarative clause [4]. When communicating with other people, women tend to utilize softer and considerate speech such as tag questions “this election mess is terrible, isn’t it? [4]” In other words, unlike men, women are often unsure about their statements and show a great desire to agree with others when they are communicating.
Similarly, although men and woman may have the same tendency to interrupt in conversations, women seem to speak more politely to ask permission and consider about when others have finished talking [6]; in a word, women are more polite when interrupting each other. What is more, women will use ‘I am sorry’ or ‘excuse me’ to interrupt each other’s topics at the beginning of the utterance. Moreover, as mentioned earlier, women are more considerate, therefore they have great tendency to utilize the pronouns “you” and “we” in order to give politeness and acknowledge the existence of other speakers [6]. In a word, it seems that women are more careful when jumping into conversations than men.
In addition to the consideration and politeness of women’s speech, it is also noteworthy that women are likely to use positive responses such as “mm/hmm” compared with men and give agreement comments in the stream of talking rather than arguing at the end of the conversation [6]. By contrast, men often challenge and debate other’s statements [6]. Furthermore, another difference is that women persist in asking more questions than men. Both Fishman (1978) and Hirschman [6], point out that women ask questions easily when they have conversations with men.
Last but not least, men tend to give simple, direct commands while women like to make suggestions [7]. For example, there are six oral examples from men and women in a study of street play in Philadelphia [7]:
Men’s speech:
‘Gimme the pliers.’
‘Get off my steps.’
‘Look man, gimme the wire.’
Women’s speech:
‘Let’s go round the corner.’
‘Let’s ask her for some more bottles.’
‘We could go round looking for more bottles.’
In other words, boys are more focused and direct in their actions, whereas girls are likely to speak and include themselves. According to Goodwin [7], boy’s groups are active and based on power, so they are more leader-dominated; on the other hand, girls tend to negotiate and rely on each other. In addition, men and women will be interested in different topics which are developed when they are young: men are fond of sports and politics whereas women show their opinions about child-rearing and personal relationships [8]. As being proved above, boys and girls characteristics in speeches will be the previous acquiring experience for the differences between men and women.
Above all, men and women perform differently on complying with the communicative rules in cross-gender conversations. In contrast to men, women represent less powerful and more considerate speakers, whereas men are more direct and leader-oriented.
Causes
Having summarized the differences that have been documented, the discussion now turns to how such differences are produced, even though men and women live together in the same society. Language, a mirror of society, reflects the realities of society, so does the gender language to a large degree. The causes of arousing the differences of language and gender will be presented in the perspectives of individual and social factors, respectively.
To begin with, as the significant influences of “gender-as-culture”, Maltz & Borker [5], identify the reasons about the differences in male or female language: it is not only the environment in which males and females grow up, but also the cultural position which is acquired differently by males and females. In other words, the gap in communication between men and women is related to the environment of first language learning and the social status and power of the different genders in society.
Furthermore, there is no question that men and women acquire different communicative styles because they play in different gender groups when they are young [9]. Men develop competitive speech styles whereas women are acquiring cooperative speech styles separately [9]. For example, men are more likely to challenge or debate other’s utterances [6]. In other words, men and women are preparing for developing different language styles when they are growing up; therefore, they are learning and acquiring their own characteristic way of speaking as well.
Moreover, with the increasing attention paid to women’s linguistic behaviour, socio- linguistics have confirmed and identified the gender stereotypes [7]. In other words, gender difference has become an important factor in socio- linguistics concerning men and women’s different aspects of speaking. Due to their lower position in society, women speak more tentatively in order to persuade others step by step in contrast with men’s speech [4]. The relationship between the status of women’s social position and the politeness and formality of their speech should be accounted as an important factor. Because of women’s lower social class, they tend to use more sensitive speech than men [2]. In other words, women’s position in society is generally lower than men’s and women have fewer opportunities to secure their positions; therefore, it is necessary for women to use more polite and considerate speech in order to succeed [1]. Obviously, on occasion of that if women want to gain status through their appearance rather than what they to secure their social position, women’s language follows the same logic, that is women should use formal and higher standard language than men [10]. To sum up, the social positions of different genders will cause different behaviour which will appear in speech.
Thus, gender roles in history and society frame and force the differences in male and female language. Language reflects the culture of men and women’s social position; therefore, men and women speak and communicate with their gender stables. The last section will illustrate the significance of researching language differences in gender and the implication for this in foreign language teaching.
Changes and importance of language and gender study in culture and language teaching
Language involves sharing cultural meaning and culture involves sharing language and so they are interacting and developing. Language is a product of cultural process is preparing meanings for culture. Cultures share a range of definitions and interactions with people’s lives [11]. It is acknowledged that languages and cultures are interacting with different [12] communication style [13]. Therefore, male and female language will be influenced by different culture acquired through communication.
Historically, the changes in men’s and women’s language depend very much on the community and society’s movements and shifts [15]. To begin with, because of the changes in women’s position in society, women’s social roles have become more and more important; therefore, the ways of communicating between men and women are now moving into a new situation. For example, in Belfast, more and more young women seek for work positions and establish networks similar to men in the community; therefore, this change will lead to significant linguistic reflexes [14]. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that gender differences in language usage are influenced by “stylistic preferences” of gender identity and also gender differences representing the “national culture” of social positions [5]. In addition, with the development of society, male and female language will definitely change all the times. For example, research pays more attention to the conversational styles between men and women. The research shows that men are not less talkative than women; they are fond of taking in husband-wife interactions, TV discussions and meetings [8].
Men and women’s differences in their language strongly suggest that teachers can utilize the characteristics between boys and girls and improve communication with their students. For example, girls are more sensitive and interactive at a very early age while boys are not as good in this respect [16]. In addition, taking into account the differences in male and female language and paying more attention in teaching contents will have positive effects. For example, appropriate gender-based discourse in textbooks will build better understanding and help overseas students to adapt quickly into American society in schools [17]. In summarizing, teachers should be aware of considering more gender differences and utilizing appropriate teaching methods.
To sum up, with the development of research into language and gender in societies, it is clear that the characteristics of men and women’s language will also change in order to suit the environment. Therefore, as a language teacher, it is essential not only to pay attention to students’ gender and their characteristics, but also to encourage and promote students learning effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by understanding the nature and role of gender in a particular language, it is acknowledged that not only gender differences but also developing societies all have responsibility for the differences between male and female language. Through describing the differences of male and female language in language systems and communication in detail, and analyzing the causes of these differences especially about social factors, the main purpose is to raise people’s awareness and consider the differences between male and female language in order to make communication smooth and teaching and learning more effective.
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