Language and Gender by Princess Edrhine Arrobang PDF
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Princess Edrhine Arrobang
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This document analyzes the relationship between language and gender, exploring how language reflects and shapes gender perceptions. It examines different communication styles, the impact of names on social interactions, and cross-cultural variations in naming conventions.
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Language and Gender by: Princess Edrhine Arrobang Content 01 02 Women's Different Language Speech Style 03 04 Women's Style Asymmetry in Names of Interaction and Public Behavior Women’s language Feminist l...
Language and Gender by: Princess Edrhine Arrobang Content 01 02 Women's Different Language Speech Style 03 04 Women's Style Asymmetry in Names of Interaction and Public Behavior Women’s language Feminist linguist support feminist demand for: Equal opportunity to women: Equal pay, Access to power and politics, Law, Business etc. This demand encourages middle class women to “look, act, and speak like men”. Theory of women’s language: Robin Lakoff (1972) In 1972, Robin Lakoff published an article entitled “Language and woman's place,” which created a huge fuss. There were those who found the entire topic trivial — yet another ridiculous manifestation of feminist “paranoia.” And there were those — mostly women — who jumped in to engage with the arguments and issues that Lakoff had put forth. Thus was launched the study of language and gender. Theory of women’s language: Robin Lakoff (1973) Lakoff’s view that “womens language” disempowers them. Women's language, according to Lakoff, is rife with such devices as mitigators (sort of, I think) and inessential qualifiers (really happy, so beautiful). This language, she went on to argue, renders women's speech tentative, powerless, and trivial; and as such, it disqualifies them from positions of power and authority. Women's Language Women use hedges (avoid direct expression): “You could add a little bit of fresh lemon if you like” Hypercorrectness (oversensitive to accuracy of usage) American men drop final g in [readin--] but women avoid it. Super-polite forms extremely sorry “thank you very much for the perfect cup...of perfect tea”. Often avoid dirty jokes (Lakoff, 2004, p.189) Different Speech Style Menn are more likely to communicate as a way to maintain their status and independence, while women tend to view communication as a path to create friendships and build relationships. For men, communication is a way to negotiate power, seek wins, avoid failure and offer advice, among other things. For women, communication is a way to get closer, seek understanding and find equality or symmetry. Women's Style of Interaction Holmes thinks women’s style of interaction is superior to that of men. In her New Zealand study, Holmes finds that women are more attentive to face needs, positive politeness Women use tag question to facilitate the hearer and avoid interrupting talk Women's Style of Interaction The most important aspects of female communication revolve around the establishment and maintenance of relationships with others. Other feminine communication styles include establishing equality, supporting others, promoting participation, responsiveness, being personal and disclosing information, and tentativeness. Asymmetry in Names and Public Behavior EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NAMES AND GENDER PERCEPTION 1 2 3 Names as Social Markers Gendered Expectations Cultural Variations Names serve as powerful Certain names carry Name conventions and indicators of gender, implicit assumptions about their association with influencing social personality traits, gender vary across interactions and shaping behaviors, and even career cultures and historical perceptions. paths, often reinforcing periods. gender stereotypes. Ancient Traditions Early societies often used names to reflect social roles, family lineage, or religious beliefs, often distinguishing genders. Medieval and Renaissance During this era, names became more standardized and associated with specific genders, solidifying existing patterns. Modern Era Contemporary societies continue to grapple with the impact of historical conventions, while also exploring new possibilities for gender-neutral names. CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON NAME ASYMMETRY AND SOCIAL NORMS Culture Name Conventions Social Norms Traditional gendered names are Societal expectations and biases based common, but gender-neutral on names are still prevalent, but Western Cultures names are becoming more awareness and acceptance of gender popular. diversity are growing. Name conventions vary greatly, Social norms related to names and with some cultures placing a gender can be complex and nuanced, Eastern Cultures strong emphasis on gender reflecting diverse cultural values and distinction, while others have traditions. more flexible approaches. Thank You