|| Language and Gender ||

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A quick Experiment

What subjects are you studying at College?

Photography, English Language, Media Studies & Maths (All at A Level)

(These are Artistic and Scientific subjects.)

• In our group, the majority of students are doing Art & Humanity based subjects, with nobody choosing a core science, and only one male & female taking maths.  

(Keeping in mind that there is only one Male in the entire class.) 

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Spoken Language

The age old Dilemma:

NATURE OR NURTURE? 

Were we born this way, or brought up this way?

Are you born a woman, or a man, and can you change that?

 

||SOCIETY AFFECTS LANGUAGE||

For example, using Marked Terms, such as "Actor & Actress" are not considered Politically correct, because why should it matter whether you're Male or Female? You're still doing the same job.

However  

There are small differences in language between Men & Women, such as Women not being as blunt as Men whilst speaking. 

To study these ideas in more depth, we analysed ||this article|| 

"Duels and Duets: Why Men & Woman talk so differently" 

The title is already suggesting that men use language in a competivive, "Duelling" nature, whilst Women use language in a more compatitive, "Duetting" nature. The article then opens with the ideas behind the article, that Women use language to be Inclusive, whilst Men use language to be Exclusive.

Throughout the article there are quotes and captions from writer John Locke, who suggests that Language and Gender is biological, and that Woman's language keeps the community together so her children can grow up with a father. For example:

• "Women lack the ability to debate, whilst Men have it deeply rooted in Male biology."
• "Men's talk is claimed to me adversarial, goal-directed and focused on factual information and, as such, differs from woman's co-operative interpersonal and emotional use of language."
• "Differences in men and woman's verbal behaviour are linked to biological differences. Eg- Pre-natal hormones and genetic factors."

But along with these quotes, Lock also makes some sweeping judgements on gender, such as:

• "Verbal disputation appears to be something that few woman seek or expect to enjoy."