Proverbs Women’s tongues are like lamb’s tails –

they are never still. (English)

The North Sea will sooner be found wanting in water than a woman at loss

for words. (Jutland)

Nothing is so unnatural as a talkative man or a quiet woman. (Scottish)

A woman’s tongue is the last thing about her that dies. (Chinese)

The woman with active hands and feet, marry her, but, the woman with overactive

mouth, leave her alone. (Maori)

Three women make a market. (Japanese)

On the other hand, Boys will be boys.

It’s a man’s world.

“When a man gets up to speak, people listen, then look. When a woman gets up, people look; then, if

they like what they see, they listen.” (Remy de Gourmont)

“Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile?” (Lynn Hecht Schafren)

Why do we have these preconceptions or stereotypes?

Why do men and women speak differently?

Cultural Factor The Difference Approach (Deborah

Tannen)

What is culture?Culture consists of the beliefs, behaviours, and other characteristics common to the

members of a particular group. Through culture, people and groups define

themselves and conform to society’s shared values which include many societal

aspects such as language, customs, values, norms, etc.

1. Dominance • Female speech is different because female

sex is seen as a subordinate group results from male supremacy and patriarchy.

(Spender, Zimmerman, West)

• Allowing men stronger means of expression than are open to women further reinforces men’s position of strength in the real world.

(Lakoff, 1975)

Eg. a. In addressing • In Bengali, a wife (who is subordinate) is not

permitted to use her husband’s (who is superior) name Husband’s name: Tara (star) Wife uses circumlocution: nokkhotro

(heavenly body)

b. In giving commands

Boys Girls

‘Get off me steps.’

Let’s go around the corner.’

‘Look man, gimme the

headphones.’

‘‘We could go round looking for more

bottles.’

2. Solidarity Women tend to interact in ways which will maintain

and increase solidarity. (Holmes, 1998)

Females generally use speech to develop and maintain relationships.

(Climate, 1997)

Women speak and hear a language of connection and intimacy, while men speak and hear a language of

status and independence. (Tannen, 1990)

Eg. According to Kaplan and Farrell (1994)

and Leet-Peregrini (1980) messages, e-mails, produced by women are short and their participation is driven by their desire to keep the communication going rather than the desire to achieve consensus.

3. Affective communication Women tend to focus on the affective

functions of an interaction more often than men do. (Holmes, 1998)

Eg.

4. Acculturation As children, women are encouraged to

be “little ladies.” (Lakoff, 1975)

Eg. Women are not prone to talk in public

Social activities Meetings, etc.

Because Public display Sensitive of other’s reactions

Malagasy Community How men use language in Malagasy community:

Lose face situations Use language subtly Maintain good communication Avoid confrontations Discreet Indirectness Inexplicit requests Imprecise accusations Subtle criticisms

How women use language in Malagasy community: TOTAL OPPOSITE

• Women are recruited: directness and explicitness

• Men are recruited: subtlety and delicacy

• Women are definitely inferior to men in this society