Questions and Answers
Which of the following statements best represents the deficit theory?
Otto Jespersen's research concluded that women use fewer non-fluency features in their speech.
False
Who popularized the deficit model in 1975?
Robin Lakoff
According to Pamela Fishman, conversations between men and women often fail due to men's ________ in responding.
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Match the following gendered language features with their descriptions:
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What does the term 'MLU' stand for in the context of language research?
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Robin Lakoff suggested that women tend to swear more than men in conversation.
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What did Onnela's research find in relation to MLU among master's students?
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The deficit model was criticized for being based on __________ evidence.
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Which of the following is NOT a feature of women's language according to Robin Lakoff?
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Study Notes
Gendered Language Overview
- Gender impacts language, influencing speech styles, group interactions, and portrayals in advertisements.
- Four main theories of gendered language: dominance, difference, deficit, and diversity referred to as the 'four Ds'.
Dominance Theory
- Dominance theories highlight the language use reflecting male dominance in society.
- Research by Schulz and Lakoff examines gendered language, noting marked terms such as the feminine suffix '-ess' (e.g., actress vs. actor).
- Semantic derogation observed where female terms gain negative connotations (e.g., 'mistress' vs. 'master').
- Janet Holmes studied affectionate terms for women, finding they often relate to food or animals (e.g., 'sugar', 'honey', 'bitch').
- Stanley's research (1970s) showed 220 insults for promiscuous women vs. 20 for men.
- Public perception study by Tyger Drew-Honey showed both genders label promiscuous women negatively while using neutral terms for men (e.g., "slag" vs. "lad").
- Kira Hall expanded Lakoff's findings, showing phone sex workers used these features for femininity.
- Lakoff noted traits like hypercorrect grammar and avoidance of double negatives in women's speech.
- O'Barr and Atkins challenged Lakoff, suggesting power dynamics rather than gender influence language use.
Difference Model
- Originated by Deborah Tannen, this model posits inherent differences in male and female communication styles.
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Continuums of difference:
- Advice vs. understanding: men prefer solutions; women prefer empathy.
- Orders vs. proposals: men use imperatives; women use softer requests.
- Status vs. support: male speech aims for control; female speech seeks support.
- Information vs. feelings: men provide facts; women share emotions.
- Independence vs. intimacy: men prioritize autonomy; women value connection.
- Conflict vs. compromise: women favor compromise, while men are more confrontational.
- Beattie's larger corpus study indicates a more nuanced understanding than past studies by Zimmerman and West.
- Pamela Fishman found men posed fewer questions, leading women to perform much of the conversational work.
Deficit Model
- The deficit theory, originating from Otto Jespersen’s 1922 work, argues women’s language is inherently weak.
- Jespersen identified non-fluency features (fillers, pauses) in women's speech.
- Onnela's study challenges Jespersen, finding similar mean length of utterance (MLU) between genders.
- Jespersen's insights are often seen as speculative, lacking rigorous data.
- Robin Lakoff popularized the deficit model in 1975, identifying traits contributing to perceived weakness in women's language:
- Hypercorrect grammar
- Over-apologizing
- Use of empty adjectives (e.g., lovely, brilliant)
- Tag questions (e.g., “You’re going out tonight, aren’t you?”)
- Overuse of intensifiers (e.g., "so")
- Specialized vocabulary for colors
- Less swearing
- Perceived lack of humor
- Lakoff's list isn't exhaustive but encapsulates key traits associated with women's speech.
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Description
Test your knowledge on gender and language theories with this quiz covering key concepts like deficit theory, Judith Butler's influence, and features of communication. Explore the works of Otto Jespersen and Pamela Fishman to understand their significance in gender studies.
