difference model

Question 1

Deborah Tannen’s difference theory

Answer 1

DT-professor of sociolinguistics
-difference theory deals with cross gender communication
-difference theory as postulated by Tannen is generally summarised into six categories, each of which pairs contrasting uses of language by males and females
DT-leading supporter of the difference model ( her research derives from ethnicity studies)
- author of the book “ you just don’t understand”; shows us how women and men talk in different ways, for profoundly different reasons

Question 2

John Gumperz (80’s)

Answer 2

-has roots in difference theory
- he examined differences in cross cultural communications so whilst difference theory focuses on cross gender communications, the male and female genders are often presented as being two separate cultures, hence his relevance
- coined the term ‘cross talk’
-CASE STUDY-
Heathrow airport- Asian v western- Asian people have a falling intonation so questions sound like statements instead :”gravy”
western people have a rising intonation so everything comes off as a question, in this case the westerners would think that the Asians are not offering they are telling

Question 3

Two of DC’s categories’

Answer 3

STATUS V. SUPPORT
Tannen stated;
for men, world= competitive place, conversation and speech are used to build status
for women, world= network of connections, language used to seek and offer support
Furthermore men are also more likely to interrupt to get their point across and hence gain status
ORDERS V. PROPOSALS
Tannen stated;
for men, they will use direct imperatives ( “close the door”, “switch on the light” when speaking to others
for women, they will use super polite forms (“let’s..”, “do you mind if..?”)

Question 4

John Gray

Answer 4

• supports DT/ difference model
• author of ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’
• states that modern men and women are under the illusion that they speak the same language
  -states that whilst they may use the same words, they tend to follow different meanings
• “yeah” or “uh huh” for women means “yes, I’m listening”, but for men means “yes, I agree with you”

Question 5

Deborah Cameron

Answer 5

• author and researcher
  -challenges difference theory
• criticised DT for the term “cross talk” linked with ethnic miscommunications, on such notations that ‘men and women from one community is not a parallel case’ (to say white people conversing with mostly foreign born immigrants)

Question 6

Helen Reid Thomas (90’s)

Answer 6

• criticised DT
• she carried out the tests that would provide evidence for DT’s failing argument and proved/ concluded that there was no difference in the interpretation of each gender: instead it is the context which tells people how to interpret minimal responses such as “yeah” or “uh huh”

Question 7

Kitzinger and Frith (late 90’s)

Answer 7

-challenges difference theory
- noted that ‘ordinary’ non sexual refusals are also performed using conventional strategies e.g. hedging, and are often organised by both sexes, undermining claim that men do not understand indirect refusals

Question 8

Susan Ehrlich (2000’s)

Answer 8

-challenges
- ‘representing rape’ (2002), and ‘the discursive reconstruction of sexual consent’ (2006).
-two women students made complaints against the same male student with accusations of sexual assault.
- One of the tribunal members, GK, interpreted the incident as a case of miscommunication
-DC stated “you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out that someone who feigns unconsciousness in bed with you probably doesn’t want to have sex”
- she also stated how the assumption that avoiding miscommunication in language is a female problem reflects the traditional tendency of rape trials-to blame the victim; her clothing, her reputation etc