Gender Theorists

Gender Theorists

1. Trugill (1983)

   • Women's pronouncitation is closer to RP than males.

2. Cheshire (1982)

   • Men tend to use more non-grammatical forms. "Ain't", "innit" etc.

3. Lakoff (1975)

   • Women use hedges/fillers, tag questions, indirect speech, intensifiers.
     • Argues that these features make women seem more inferior and needy to men.
       • O'barr & Atkins (1980)
         • Challenges Lakoff - argues that men and women of low social status used features that Lakoff suggests.

4. Tanner (1990)

   • Men: more concerned with status. Interrupt more, direct speech, approaches conflict.
   • Women: more interested in bonds. Talk less/agree more, indirect speech, avoids conflict, offers support.

5. Beattie (1982)

   • Challenges Zimmerman & West who thought that men's interruptions were a sign of dominance (supports Lakoff). Say that it could be to show support.

6. Zimmerman & West (1975)

   • Did a study among students where 96% of interruptions in conversation were made by men. Suggests dominance.
     • Perhaps a bias study, as it was only done among students.