The Deficit Model by Robin Lakoff, Otto Jespersen

Question 1

Why was Robin Lakoff a believer in this to an text?

Answer 1

Robin Lakoff in her book ‘Language and a Women’s Place’ 1975 she combined elements of dominance and deficit and created a set of female characteristics.

Question 2

Q: What were these set of female characteristics?

Answer 2

They use empty adjectives: divine, lovely, adorable…They use modal verbs: should, would…Overuse qualifiers. I think that…They use mitigated responses and hidden directives.They have special lexis for things like colours and cloth.They avoid coarse language and expletives.Women can’t tell jokes.”

Question 3

And where these based on research findings?

Answer 3

No, these were all impressions.

Question 4

What else?

Answer 4

Lakoff’s key points about women’s language: speak less frequently

show they are listening by using minimal responses (PMRs – mmm, yeah etc.)

use hyper–correct grammar such as…‘avoiding ‘ain’t’ or double negatives such as the sentence ‘That won’t do you no good’