Gender theorists

Question 1

O’Barr & Atkins

Answer 1

• 1980
• Powerless lang = not gendered concept > women were in a generally powerless position in society > powerless lang became associated with women
• Saw Lakoff’s list as reductive] less to do with gender, more to do with power in society

Question 2

Zimmerman & West

Answer 2

• 1975
• men interrupt women more to display linguistic dominance] 46:2
• competitive - cooperative, in-charge - submissive
• narrow data set, limited context & low age range

Question 3

Pamela Fishman

Answer 3

• women do all the work
• men often dont respond to declaratives
• women often give positive feedback as a way of encouraging male speakers to engage] more coooperative NOT weak

Question 4

What is interractional shitwork?

Answer 4

• the unseen work done to maintain and facilitate social interactions
• more frequent questioning = to keep males engaged & interested
• Pamela Fishman

Question 5

Deborah Tannen

Answer 5

difference model
~ observations & ideas in a book
~ societal making not biological] conditioned
~ communication gap as they approach convos diff.
* status V support
* independence V intimacy
* advice V understanding
* information V feelings
* orders V proposals
* conflict V compromise

Question 6

What is a modal/ referential tag?

Janet Holmes

Answer 6

requests for info. & may show uncertainty
e.g. “isn’t it?”

Question 7

What is an affective (facilitative) tag?

Janet Holmes

Answer 7

addressee oriented
expressed intimacy & solidarity
looking for supporting relationship in convos
e.g. “aren’t you?

Question 8

What is an affective (softening) tag?

Janet Holmes

Answer 8

weaken the tone of command
e.g. “, could you?”

Question 9

Janet Holmes

Answer 9

• against Lakoff & the dominance model
• W = more tags overall
• M = more modals > lack of self-confidence
• affective = not weak BUT caring & intimate
• supports difference model = neither side shows weakness or domincance- merely difference

Question 10

Trudgill

Answer 10

• sex & class
• women of each class use the prestige variable more than men do of the same class
• using the non-standard variable is not just a working class thing BUT ALSO a male thing
• women of all classes over-report
• men of all classes under-report
• men-women AND diff. classes are aiming to speak a diff. type of lang