Gender Speech Communities
Gender Speech Communities Christina McGruder Grantham University
I think it’s safe to say that men and women are different in so many ways. We act differently, look different, and we communicate differently. These differences can cause conflicts from time to time which often lead to a misunderstanding. For communication between men and women, we must recognize the differences between male and female communication styles. In my paper, I will be discussing the different communication styles between men and women and how these differences play a major role in the workplace.
According to an article I seen by Anne Meier (1999, pp. 115-119), “There exist numerous stereotypes in the way men and women communicate.” We will first begin with the most common form of communication…talking”. One of the most common notions is that women talk more than men. Women are also thought to participate in “empty talk”, dealing with trivial and unimportant subjects. While women’s speech is believed to be unassertive and lacking in power, men’s speech is viewed as bold and aggressive. Men and women typically talk about different things. Women, in conversation with women, discuss personal matters, business, and men. Men control the topic of conversation, and may use abrupt and direct methods to do so, especially with women. More than men, women use linguistic forms which may be perceived as less assertive and lacking power. These include compound requests, which are more polite and less direct; qualifiers and disclaimers, which make the request or message sound tentative; and tag questions, which are attached to a statement, weakening them.”(Meier, 1999)
“When characterizing the communication style of women, it is usually described as the one that relates to people, relationships and feelings; the style that expresses emotions, support, and understanding and is more personal, polite, context related and detailed”. (Rawluszko, 2009) Women are known to
I think it’s safe to say that men and women are different in so many ways. We act differently, look different, and we communicate differently. These differences can cause conflicts from time to time which often lead to a misunderstanding. For communication between men and women, we must recognize the differences between male and female communication styles. In my paper, I will be discussing the different communication styles between men and women and how these differences play a major role in the workplace.
According to an article I seen by Anne Meier (1999, pp. 115-119), “There exist numerous stereotypes in the way men and women communicate.” We will first begin with the most common form of communication…talking”. One of the most common notions is that women talk more than men. Women are also thought to participate in “empty talk”, dealing with trivial and unimportant subjects. While women’s speech is believed to be unassertive and lacking in power, men’s speech is viewed as bold and aggressive. Men and women typically talk about different things. Women, in conversation with women, discuss personal matters, business, and men. Men control the topic of conversation, and may use abrupt and direct methods to do so, especially with women. More than men, women use linguistic forms which may be perceived as less assertive and lacking power. These include compound requests, which are more polite and less direct; qualifiers and disclaimers, which make the request or message sound tentative; and tag questions, which are attached to a statement, weakening them.”(Meier, 1999)
“When characterizing the communication style of women, it is usually described as the one that relates to people, relationships and feelings; the style that expresses emotions, support, and understanding and is more personal, polite, context related and detailed”. (Rawluszko, 2009) Women are known to
References: Meier, A. E., (1999). Gender and Communication. English Quarterly, 31 (3/4), pp. 115-119. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from CBCA Complete. (Document ID: 704954391) Rawluszko, M. (2009). Communication in the conditions of diversity. Kobieta I Bizness, 1-4, pp. 53-56. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from ProQuest Central. (Document ID: 1948593941) Weinstein, M., (2006, November). The differences between boys and girls… at the office. Training, 43 (11), p. 8. Retrieved July 10, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 1164950321).