Do males and females use language in a different way?

[thedamo99]

Hi, was looking for some opion's on the following topic. Do males and females use language in different ways? Can you please help:-?

 

[probus]

Since your question refers to language in general rather than English, perhaps this thread belongs under General Language Discussions rather than Ask a Teacher.

I have read that in Japanese men and women definitely employ different vocabularies. But in the languages that I know well, English and French, I notice no difference in the way the two sexes use language. There have been occasional minor exceptions to that rule; for example, there was the Valley Girl fad in California a few years ago. But that was a very minor thing that soon died out.

 

[Raymott]

Hi, was looking for some opion's on the following topic. Do males and females use language in different ways? Can you please help:-?

My opinion: Yes, they do. Almost all sociolinguists would agree to some extent.
Deborah Tannen's book, "You just Don't Understand" is an excellent source.

What research have you come up with so far? What's your opinion?

 

[Tdol]

I have to say that I think Deborah Tannen rather overstates her case, though. ;-)

 

[Raymott]

I have to say that I think Deborah Tannen rather overstates her case, though. ;-)

Maybe. What I liked about her book (which is a bit old now, admittedly) is that she avoids a lot of the sexist vitriol that many more recent feminist (and anti-feminist) writers have indulged in. That is, her over-statements are even-handed.

Naturally, we're dealing with statistical differences - a slight overlap of the bell curve - not categorical ones.

 

[Tdol]

I agree; I think she maybe just makes too much of things, but does so nicely. And it is a good read.

 

[Rakkhi.sharma]

Actually there is some word, not much of part, otherwise for both have same ways.

 

[thedamo99]

Has anyone got some good points as to why they use language differently?

 

[Raymott]

Has anyone got some good points as to why they use language differently?

Because their brains are biologically different.
I asked you what you've found out from your research so far, and what your opinions are. Do you want a discussion, or are you just gathering others' ideas?