deficit theory

Question 1

which theorist came up with this theory?

Answer 1

• Otto Jesperson (1922)

Question 2

what is the deficit theory?

Answer 2

• focuses on men’s language being the standard and women’s language being insufficient as it differs to standard

Question 3

what are some of the theories findings?

Answer 3

• women talk a lot
• women have a smaller vocab then men
• novels written by women are easier to read and use fewer difficult words
  -women use half finished sentences
• women link sentences with and because they are ‘emotional’ and not ‘grammatical’