3 D's + theorists

Gender theories and Theorists

Deficit Model:

The idea that women language is deficient to the male 'norm'.

Robin Lakoff (1975): Robin is representative of the 'deficit approach' to language and gender. She admits that "It is my impression though I do not have precise statistical evidence"- she uses generalisations but no statistical evidence to support her claims.

Features of female speech:

1. Hedges: phrases like 'sort of', 'kind of'
2. Empty adjectives: 'Divine' and 'nice'
3. Super-polite form: 'would you mind'
4. More apologetic: 'I'm sorry but I think that'
5. Speak less frequently
6. Avoid coarse language or expletives
7. Prestige grammar and clear articulation- Women perceive language as inspirational

Indirect requests: 'I'm so thirsty' - implied meanings - pragmatics

But since 1975 views on gender have drastically changed.


Janet Holmes (1992): She suggested that women use tag question to maintain discussion or to be polite. Therefore rather than showing uncertainty, it shows cooperation. Janet also stated that the use of hedges and fillers were not simply markers of indecision  but were used of a variety of reasons. She also believed that these features are boosting devices used to intensify the force of an expression for added emphasis or powers.
 

Difference Model:

This approach seeks to explain the ways in which men and women talk in relation to their sub-cultures and ways in which their talk is shaped by attitudes, or preference for a type of talk.

Deborah Tannen (1990):She believes the difference starts in childhood, where parents use more words about feelings to girls and use more verbs to boys. Males and females belong to difference sub-cultures and therefore speak differently.

There are gender differences in ways of speaking and we need to identify and understand them:

1. Status v Support - men see language as a means of asserting dominance; women see it as a way of confirming/supporting ideas.
2. Independence v Intimacy- men "go it alone"; women seek support.
3. Advice v Understanding - men see language as problem solving; women see it as a means of empathy.
4. Information v Feelings - males are concerned with the facts; women with emotions.
5. Orders v Proposals - men use imperatives; females use hidden directives.
6. Conflict v Compromise - men will argue; women will try to find a middle ground.

                               Six contrasts to show differences between genders.

Dominance Model:

This idea sees women as an oppressed group and interprets differences in women's and men's speech in terms of men's dominance and women's subordination.

Deborah Cameron (1995): Challenges the whole idea that there are two different and contrasting languages for men and women.

Zimmerman and West (1975): This is the theory that in mixed-sex conversations men are more likely to interrupt than women.

Subsequent research shows that men and females don't hold equal positions when it comes to conversations.

1. Most interruptions (96%) made in mixed conversations were made by men. 
2. Men were dominant in conversations and sought to apply their dominance by applying constraints to the conversation.
3. They then believed this reflected the male domination of society.