Language Variations: Holmes Flashcards
When did Holmes do her study?
1980’s
What did Holmes look at in her study?
The use of tag questions
What is one of the reasons that Holmes looked at the use of tag questions?
Because they were on the list of Lakoff’s ‘Womens Language’ features
Name the 2 tag question types Holmes created for her study
Referential Tag Questions, Affective Tag Questions
What 2 sub-classes of Affective Tag Questions were there?
Facilitative Tag Questions, Softening Tag Questions
What were Referential tag questions with an example?
Questions that showed a lack of information such as, “The show was on Channel 4, isn’t it?”
What were Facilitative tag questions with an example?
Questions which express solidarity such as, “We love that show, don’t we?”
What were Softening tag questions with an example?
Questions that weakened the tone of a command or criticism such as, “Give me that hairbrush, wont you?”
What did Holmes find with the amount of tag questions women used compared to men overall?
Women used more tag questions compared to men
What type of tag questions did women mostly use and why?
Affective Tag questions to show solidarity
What type of tag question were men more likely to use?
Facilitative tag questions
What did Holmes find about when women expressed themselves?
They would use more positive politeness principles
What did Holmes find about men when they expressed themselves?
They used more negative politeness principles
What does men using more negative politeness principles when expressing themselves show?
They are more uncertain about expressing themselves, possibly due to the feeling of having less power.
What approach does Holmes’ study fall under?
Difference Approach
