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LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 22
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Do HungDo Hungarianarian (Finnish) women and men (Finnish) women and men
use language use language differently?differently?
If yes, in what way(s)?If yes, in what way(s)?
Do Do womenwomen speak “better” than speak “better” than menmen??
Why do women (tend to) use more Why do women (tend to) use more
standard forms than men?standard forms than men?
Why do men (tend to) use more Why do men (tend to) use more
vernacular forms than women?vernacular forms than women?
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 33
MORE MORE QUESTIONS FOR QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION
Who (tend to) swear more: men or Who (tend to) swear more: men or
women?women?
Who (tend to) speak more: men or Who (tend to) speak more: men or
women?women?
What are typical male / female topics?What are typical male / female topics?
What are typical male / female What are typical male / female
adjectives?adjectives?
Any other differences you can think of? Any other differences you can think of?
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 44
Gender differences in language Gender differences in language useuse
FeFewer strong expletives ‘wer strong expletives ‘oh dear, oh dear,
fudgefudge’’ (cf.(cf. shit, damnshit, damn))
MMoreore tag questionstag questions
QQuestion intonation with statementsuestion intonation with statements
WWeaker forms of directives, more eaker forms of directives, more
polite formspolite forms
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 55
Gender differences in language Gender differences in language use (cont.)use (cont.)
NNeutral adjectives vs women’s eutral adjectives vs women’s
adjectives adjectives
Male vs. female topicsMale vs. female topics
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 66
DDifferences in interactional ifferences in interactional
(conversational) (conversational) strategy strategy ofof womenwomen and and
menmen
IInterruptionsnterruptions
Minimal responsesMinimal responses
SilenceSilence
UUse of questions and statementsse of questions and statements
CCompetitionompetition vs. vs. supportsupport, , competitioncompetition vs. vs. cooperationcooperation
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 77
Gender differences in language Gender differences in language use (cont.)use (cont.)
SwearingSwearing
VerbosityVerbosity
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 88
SUMMARY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES SUMMARY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES
IN CONVERSATIONSIN CONVERSATIONS
W and M behave in conversationW and M behave in conversationss as as
expected of them by societyexpected of them by society
Society Society sees sees menmen as as powerful, powerful,
authoritauthoritativeative, and expects them to behave , and expects them to behave
accordingly accordingly
WomenWomen’s role is different, rather expected ’s role is different, rather expected
to to be be helphelpfulful and and supportsupportiveive
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 99
SUMMARY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES SUMMARY OF GENDER DIFFERENCES
IN LANGUAGE USEIN LANGUAGE USE
GGender differenceender differencess are the result of social are the result of social
factors, not linguistic ones per se. factors, not linguistic ones per se.
F and M language reflects what (a male F and M language reflects what (a male
dominated?) society expects of W and M.dominated?) society expects of W and M.
Acquired very early on, and become part Acquired very early on, and become part
of F/M basic identity very youngof F/M basic identity very young..
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1010
How language differs when How language differs when referring to W and Mreferring to W and M??
DISCUSS:DISCUSS:
English is a sexist language. English is a sexist language.
Hungarian is a sexist language.Hungarian is a sexist language.
(SEXIST: Discriminates against the sexes: (SEXIST: Discriminates against the sexes:
MEN and / or WOMEN)MEN and / or WOMEN)
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1111
SEXISM IN LANGUAGESEXISM IN LANGUAGE
MetaphorsMetaphors: : derogatory derogatory (animal) (animal) imagesimages to to describe Wdescribe WGGeneric maleeneric male = use of masculine forms: = use of masculine forms: he, he, manman, to refer to both sexes, to refer to both sexes–– ManMan has learned to control has learned to control hishis environment. environment.
–– The university’s The university’s fourfour--manman crew won in both the men’s crew won in both the men’s and women’s division.and women’s division.
–– The discovery will benefit all The discovery will benefit all manmankind. kind.
–– The emergency room is The emergency room is mannedmanned by a fully competent by a fully competent team.team.
EFFECT??EFFECT??
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1212
SEXISM IN LANGUAGE SEXISM IN LANGUAGE (CONT.)(CONT.)
MMaleale // FFemaleemale pairs, sexpairs, sex--paired wordspaired words::
–– bachelorbachelor / spinster/ spinster
–– governorgovernor / governess/ governess
–– warlockwarlock // witchwitch
–– mastermaster // mistressmistress
–– sir /sir / madam madam
EQUAL??EQUAL??
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1313
SEXISM IN LANGUAGE SEXISM IN LANGUAGE (CONT.)(CONT.)
Suffixes to signal femalesSuffixes to signal females::
–– lion / lionesslion / lioness
–– actoractor // actressactress
–– hero hero / / heroinheroin
–– usher usher / / usheretteusherette
–– ppoet oet / / poetesspoetess
EQUAL? EQUAL?
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1414
MMetaeta--meaning of such a linguistic meaning of such a linguistic systemsystem
DDefault (unmarked) sex = efault (unmarked) sex = MALEMALE. .
Maleness is to be assumed, unless when Maleness is to be assumed, unless when
marked otherwise. Everyone is marked otherwise. Everyone is male, male,
maleness is normmaleness is norm
In In naturenature, , however, wehowever, we see the exact see the exact
oppositeopposite,, reverse is truereverse is true. . MalenessMaleness is an is an
afterthoughtafterthought. .
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1515
SUMMARYSUMMARY
The The relative status of sexes is reflected not relative status of sexes is reflected not
only in the way they use lang, but how only in the way they use lang, but how
language refers to language refers to women women and and men.men.
SSociety’s view of women in mociety’s view of women in mostost EnglEnglishish
speaking countries is rather discriminative.speaking countries is rather discriminative.
WWomenomen are often assigned are often assigned aa subordinate subordinate
status by virtue of their gender alone, thus status by virtue of their gender alone, thus
treated linguistically as subordinatetreated linguistically as subordinate. .
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1616
ATTEMPTS ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE GENDER BIAS TO REMOVE GENDER BIAS
FROM LANGUAGEFROM LANGUAGE
Newspapers, journals, books areNewspapers, journals, books are usingusing a a
varietyvariety of of strategiesstrategies toto avoidavoid genericgeneric ‘‘hehe’ ’
and ‘and ‘manman’ ’
–– using using hehe and and sheshe alternatelyalternately
–– UsingUsing hehe//sheshe, , hishis//herher
–– using ‘using ‘sheshe’ in the generic sense’ in the generic sense
–– usingusing singularsingular ‘‘theythey’’
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1717
ATTEMPTS ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE GENDER BIAS TO REMOVE GENDER BIAS
FROM LANGUAGEFROM LANGUAGE (cont.)(cont.)
(Feminist) movements fighting for (Feminist) movements fighting for gendergender
equalequalityity, for politically correct, for politically correct (PC) (PC) langlang
useuse
–– Use ofUse of gendergender--neutral termsneutral terms instead of instead of discriminating onesdiscriminating ones, e, e.g.: steward/.g.: steward/essess → → flight flight attendantattendant, fireman → , fireman → firefire--fighterfighter
–– UseUse of of MsMs toto replacereplace MissMiss, , MrsMrs ((cfcf. . MrMr))
–– UUse of se of ((originallyoriginally) ) male term for both sexes: male term for both sexes: teacher, manager, doctorteacher, manager, doctor
–– SomeSome exaggerationsexaggerations: : historyhistory →→ herstoryherstory
LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2LANGUAGE AND GENDER 2 1818
ConclusionsConclusions
Sexism in language has its roots in Sexism in language has its roots in society.society.
Removing sexist elements from language Removing sexist elements from language is importantis important..
Sexism /discrimination will only disappear Sexism /discrimination will only disappear from langfrom languageuage completely if it disappears completely if it disappears from societyfrom society..
For this to happen, attitudes of society For this to happen, attitudes of society must be changedmust be changed (first).(first).