Language Variations: O'Barr and Atkins

Question 1

When did O’Barr and Atkins do their study?

Answer 1

1980

Question 2

What did O’Barr and Atkins challenge in their study?

Answer 2

Whether Lakoff’s idea of ‘Women’s Language’ should instead be called ‘Powerless Language’

Question 3

Where did O’Barr and Atkins do their study?

Answer 3

A courtroom

Question 4

Why did O’Barr and Atkins do their study in a courtroom?

Answer 4

Because there would be a lot of people with different levels of power, emotions and experience in the room

Question 5

What study were O’Barr and Atkins challenging? What were they trying to see?

Answer 5

The features of Lakoff’s Women’s language concept, seeing if they applied in the same way to a courtroom

Question 6

What did O’Barr and Atkins find in their study?

Answer 6

Language associated with women was exhibited by men and women when they were in a powerless position in the courtroom.

Question 7

What was the result of what O’Barr and Atkins did to the name of ‘Womans Language’ after their study?

Answer 7

They renamed it to ‘Powerless Language’

Question 8

What was found with women in powerful position in the courtroom?

Answer 8

They did not show any of the Women’s Language claims

Question 9

What approach does this study fall under?

Answer 9

The Dominance Approach