Culture dictates a lot of our every day experiences and interactions. This affects simple interactions, such as communicating, which is very much culturally influenced. Today's blog post will explore the gender differences in language, ranging from nonverbal to verbal communication, among American males and females.
A lot of what is known about gender and language comes from Deborah Tannen, who pioneered the field of study. According to Tannen's work females and males have distinctive differences in body language. Females are more likely to look each other in the eye and directly at each other when conversing. Males do not often look at each other when conversing and are more likely to have a relaxed posture while conversing with each other or females. Females will do the same when talking to females, but they will take a tighter, more formal stance in the presence of males.
There are also differences in phonology, grammar, and vocabulary among males and females. In regards to phonology women tend to say their vowels peripherally, whereas men say their centrally. In the case of pronouncing the word rent females say this word and it sounds like rant or rint, whereas men sound like they are saying runt for rent. Regarding grammar females are encouraged to speak grammatically correct, which is enculturated into females from a young age, and men are excused from speaking well. This also relates to vocabulary. It is more acceptable for males to curse but not for females. When females do curse they are more likely to be censured than males.
These are some but not all of the gender differences in language between males and females in American culture. Through the study of these linguistic gender differences we can also gain insights into the cultural values of American culture. These linguistic differences are evolving and already changing, which makes this a popular area of study among linguistic anthropologists.
References
Gezon, L., & Kottak, C. (2014). Cultural Anthropology McGraw-Hill
35 comments:
With male and females grammar, vocabulary, and phonology could there also be at times when a lady is doing a construction job and relate more to the curse words or lack of posture when talking to others on the project? In the males standpoint could there be male nurses that have better posture and use more professional words in the work environment? - Steven Benton.
You have to keep in mind that the conclusions that were discussed in this blog post are general. Any one can act outside of their gender if they learn how to do so. This is a form of code switching. When it comes to gender, though, there are limitations as to what will happen. Case in point, I worked in two different construction like environments for two summers in college (it was an excellent way to make money to help pay tuition). In both situations my speech was closely monitored by my male coworkers. I found out later at one of the sites they had a bet as to how long it would take before I cursed. When I found that out and started to act like "one of the guys" I was censured and told to act more lady like. At that same site was an older woman who had fought her way into her position because the employers did not want to hire a woman despite her qualifications. Even she was censured for acting to masculine despite being on that job for over a decade. So while it can happen it really does depend on what the social environment will allow, what the individuals within it are comfortable doing (because I ignored everyone and did as I pleased, whereas the other woman did not because she felt like she risked losing her job), etc. There really is no cut and dry answer to your question.
LaTroya "Trey Jamison
So is that why it is more acceptable for men to slouch and have their legs open and women can not? I know that it is more acceptable for a women to sit up straight and cross their legs and keep them tightly together.
The reason for the differences in sitting posture is definitely cultural. Women are expected to be prim, proper, and dainty, hence the upright posture and the closed legs (as open legs on girls and women is culturally defined as providing the message of being a "loose woman", which runs counter to the ideal of femininity). As definitions of masculinity are the opposite of femininity men have different expectations.
I don't believe all women are relaxed around other women. Sometimes they want be seen as better so they are actually more uptight.
There are always exceptions to every rule, but in social sciences we tend to look at the general trends because those affect more people than the ones who choose to be exceptional (be it in a good or bad way).
I did not know their id a difference in how male and females speak. I am curious as too how Deborah Tannen conducted her study. How did she take her sample of men and women? what did she measure? how did she measure it? what exactly were her results? I have many questions.
Excellent questions. I actually do not have the answers as I'm not a linguistic anthropologist. I am familiar with some of the methods that they use, but I am not certain which she used. I just know that she is credited as being one of the (if not THE) gender linguist, hence this post. We actually have a copy of her study (in book form) available in the office suite. If you are interested in learning more about her study I can loan you the copy.
As a small girl I was taught to pronounce my words as I would view correctly and as well as sounding out each word. Is this blog in particular saying, even though I'm a girl that I would still pronounce the word rent as "rant" or "rint?"
I honestly cannot answer that because these results were based on Deborah Tannen's work. I suspect, though, that there would still be a marked difference in pronunciation between males and females today given the stark gender differences that continue to exist in our culture, which still influence language use and pronunciation.
S.Carter
I grew up being told to always look someone in their eyes when you talk to them, never knowing it may have something to do with my gender. I believe the way we communicate is very much so related to our culture and where we come from. What was new for me was the fact that women and men pronounce words differently, something I will be observing in the future.
I agree with Deborah Tannen because as a women I do have eye to eye contact when I am speaking to another women or man. I have notice that men don't like to make eye contact with other men but it also depends on the situation. If a man is talking to his friend, brother, dad, or uncle then he wont make eye contact, but if he is talking to his employer then he will make the eye contact because its showing professionalism.
I never knew that open legs were seen as being a loose woman. Do you mean as in giving off the message that she is promiscuous? I always thought it was just a 'not so girly' thing to do.
Yes, that is exactly what I mean. There was a rhyme that the girls used to share with each other when I was growing up. It involves hand signals and isn't appropriate for this blog, but I will share if you ask about it (privately) in class.
This Blog makes me mad, men can sometimes perform these gestures during a serious conversation just to make the opposite sex (me) more frustrated; I have seen it and have had it admitted from my husband, to my face.
Okay, I will. I've never heard of it. I'll be asking Friday, thank you!
Interesting. I like the direction this article takes. How old is this research and is there more like it? Because I feel there's so many more facets of this that can be explored. I think we'll find more situational body language between the genders that depend on things such as their familiarity with one another or even the age of the individual.
Tori Spencer
I believe Tannen's work is a couple or more decades old.
Do you think that these differences in gender laugage routinely lead to "miscommunication" between the sexes,and misinterpreting the other genders intentions?
It can. There is a money making industry centered around interactions between the genders and how to be successful at them (in business, dating, etc.).
When it come to women it's a whole different story you got the ones that do to much to make them self look better then others then you have the relaxed ones.
When i come across a guy who speaks very well i'm happy for him. Because people do not expect for a male to have proper grammar it just shows they are intelligent and it makes me proud. especially with African American Males.
Brandon Allen
I believe eye to eye contact is important for both genders, and shows signs of respect and manners.
I trust eye to eye contact is essential for both sexual orientations, and hints at regard and behavior
I do believe there is a language change in todays generation. Alot of people have their own slang when their talking to people as well. Do you think there's a language change in today's generation?
-Daisha Benton
I completely agree with this article 100% due to the fact that this is true, Men can do so many things that a woman can't dare to do. Example a man can possibly go two days with wearing the same outfit (he changes his underwear of course, some men do some men don't) And, nobody will say anything to him. Yes people will notice that this man is wearing the same outfit nobody will speak upon it. Whereas a woman goes and do this same thing is will be called names and be called "Dirty" but yet she has done the same thing as that male! kind of relates to the same theory of Men can cruse and Women can't.
This article is very true, but i believe in today's society different sexes and also races are becoming closer than ever as far as language and just culture as a whole with the help of social media forcing us to constantly watch others and their interactions even when we're alone. Which ultimately leads to us learning more about those culture and adapting some of the norms that come with each culture.
I think the eye to eye contact is a good way to let people know that you are being respectful and actually listening to them.
Ainya Lomax
I am happy to see that there are differences and similarities in the way we communicate. I actually looked in the mirror on this post, seeing how these findings affect my conversation today.
I learned a lot about gender difference in my cultural diversity class and this article gave me a little more insight about it.
Speaking from a guys perspective I've noticed that some girls act more preppy or uptight when around a female they feel is threatening them in someway shape or form.
I believe that eye to eye contact has always been important because that is something that I was taught in grade school you make eye contact it shows you are listening and being respectful and if you are not making eye contact it is considered rude to some . - Mykia Chaney
I remember discussing this in class. This is true I get so upset when I'm talking to someone and they're not looking at me it makes me feel disrespected and not taken seriously. When my dad and brother talk they do not make eye contact at all but they understand each other. I feel as if it's very rude.
great blog.
-Tae'lor Pearson
I enjoyed reading this post. It's very true that women are more likely to be censored when cursing than males. I understand why this is a popular study among linguistic anthropologists.
Elaine christopher
The post contributes to a thorough analysis of gendered linguistic variations by covering a variety of language-related topics, such as vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and body language. With this wide-ranging approach, readers may learn more about the complex nature of language gender norms. It also implies that linguistic variations are a reflection of larger society's values and conventions by stressing the cultural consequences of these variations. This viewpoint challenges us to think about how language functions in social contexts and how gender dynamics are influenced in American culture.
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