Language and Age

Language and Age

1. Gender: the behavioural, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex.

2. Androcentric: having an inbuilt bias towards men.

3. Marking: identifies an item as different from the norm e.g. 'Family Man' it modifies the noun.

   • Modifier suggests unusual, untraditional as there is the need for society to define it.

4. Deborah Tannen's Difference Model,1990

   • 'The desire to affirm that women are equal has made some scholars reluctant to show that they are different.'
   • Deborah Tannen's Difference Model,1990 6 contrasts in male/female language:
     • Status v Support: men show power/dominance in conv. Women support and agree with others.
     • Independence v Intimacy: men show they don't need to rely on others, women connect and maintain closeness.
     • Advice v Understanding: men offer solutions, women show empathy/ understanding.
     • Info v feelings: men are factual, women have emotional viewpoints.
     • Order v Proposals: men are direct (imperatives), women are suggestive/ avoid commands.
     • Conflict v Compromise: men argue , women avoid conflict/negotiate
   • 'There are gender differences in ways of speaking, and we need to identify and understand them.'