Gender and Identity

Question 1

Otto Jesperson

Answer 1

Deficit Model: This theory suggested male language was standard, and women used weak language.

• Women’s language is ‘lively chatter’ due to their roles in society. He argued men were more Educated.
• Dale Spender supports this theory as she said language reinforces the patriarchal order.

Question 2

Robin Lakoff

Answer 2

Dominance Theory: She suggested males have more power in society. She said women’s language had features that highlight their powerlessness.

• Women use Empty adjectives
• Use hypercorrect grammar
• Hedge “sort of” “kind of”
• Use modal verbs “should, could, would”
• Avoid expletives
• Use indirect tag questions
• Polite forms “would you mind”

Question 3

Tannen

Answer 3

Difference Model: Suggests women and men have different aims in conversation.
Status Vs Support
Independence Vs Intimacy
Advice Vs Understanding
Information Vs Feelings
Conflict Vs Compromise
-Coats supports this as she says female conversation relates to more sensitive topics.

Question 4

Jenny Chesire

Answer 4

She studied Language used by young boys and girls.

• Found that girls alter their language to a more prestige form
• Males used more non-standard grammar

Question 5

O’barr and Atkins

Answer 5

Studied language of Court proceedings and found

• Speakers of lower status used ‘female features’
• They decided that it did not depend on gender so re-named this powerless language

Question 6

Trudgill

Answer 6

He suggested that men are more likely to use Non-standard forms
- Men seek covert prestige whereas women seek Overt prestige.