In the recent history of linguistics, there have been various approaches to analyse women’s and men’s speech. It was the goal of these studies to find out if men and women speak differently. Their speech behaviour was analysed in respect to phonology, lexical choice and usage as well as interactions between men and women in discourse. Traditionally, sociolinguists have looked at gender in discourse in connection with ethnic background, age, level of education and socio-economic status. Many theories claim that differences in language result from the male tendency to dominate women, and have seen female speech behaviour as a deviation from male speech norms. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University, has developed a different model. She claims that male-female communication is cross-cultural. Men and women may grow up in the same country, in the same society and culture, but they are members of different genders, different subcultures. Men and women talk differently: they apply different speech norms and have different expectations for their interlocutors. Misunderstandings between the sexes easily arise in discourse. In the following I will elaborate on the nature of the two different cultures, their origins, and give examples on how the gender-related cultural norms affect language. Although some of these speech-norms are apparent in western cultures, the main focus will be on Anglo-American culture.
Deborah Tannen regards men and women as belonging to two different cultures. The juxtaposition of power on the male side and solidarity on the female side is the key difference between their communities. Other differences in attitudes and values are results of this contrast. Gender is not just biological sex. In linguistics, genderlect refers to an acquired form of speech behaviour that individuals learn from early on. Children learn how to behave from parents and, more importantly, from their peers. Interaction in same-sex groups of children can explain or hint at the psychological behaviour that members of each sex develop. In the male community, power and status are important values that every man will endeavour to attain and maintain. Men perceive life in hierarchies, and continuously struggle to show or defend their status in society. In communication, too, one is always one-up or onedown. Furthermore, men value independence, their language creates distance. The female world differs in attitudes and values.
Table of Contents
- Cross-Cultural Communication between Men and Women
- Different Cultures
- Male and Female Communication Norms
- Misunderstandings Between the Sexes
- Solidarity and Intimacy
- Men's and Women's Different Approaches to Problems
- Men's and Women's Different Strategies in Requesting
Objectives and Key Themes
This text aims to explore the differences in communication between men and women, arguing that these differences stem from distinct cultural norms and values that each gender develops within their respective communities. It examines how these differing values and approaches can lead to misunderstandings in cross-gender interactions.
- Gendered Communication Norms
- Cross-Cultural Communication
- Male and Female Subcultures
- Misunderstandings in Discourse
- Power, Solidarity, and Intimacy
Chapter Summaries
- The text begins by outlining the concept of genderlect, arguing that men and women develop distinct communication styles based on their socialization within different gendered subcultures.
- It then delves into the differences between male and female communication norms, highlighting the importance of power and status in male communication and the emphasis on solidarity and intimacy in female communication.
- The text illustrates how these differing communication norms can lead to misunderstandings in conversations between men and women, particularly when discussing problems, using examples of typical exchanges.
- Finally, the text examines men's and women's different approaches to making requests, observing that women tend to use indirect strategies and emphasis on community, while men tend to employ more direct and assertive communication.
Keywords
The text focuses on the key concepts of genderlect, cross-cultural communication, male and female subcultures, communication norms, power, solidarity, intimacy, misunderstandings, and different strategies in requesting.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Marik (Author), 2006, Cross-Cultural Communication between Men and Women, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/66548
