Male and female spoken language differences: Stereotypes and evidence.

Abstract

Male speech and female speech have been observed to differ in their form, topic, content, and use. Early writers were largely introspective in their analyses; more recent work has begun to provide empirical evidence. Men may be more loquacious and directive; they use more nonstandard forms, talk more about sports, money, and business, and more frequently refer to time, space, quantity, destructive action, perceptual attributes, physical movements, and objects. Women are often more supportive, polite, and expressive, talk more about home and family, and use more words implying feeling, evaluation, interpretation, and psychological state. A comprehensive theory of "genderlect" must include information about linguistic features under a multiplicity of conditions. Both casual and serious observers of the human condition have long recognized that communication between the sexes is often frustrating. A possible cause of the difficulty is that men and women may in fact not really be speaking the same language (Jong, 1977; Reik, 1954). Aspects of form, topic, content, and use 1 of spoken language have been identified as sex associated. Either men or women are more likely to produce specific utterances. Informal observations, speculations, and stereotypes in each category are discussed first. This presentation is followed by a report of empirical findings 2 from a variety of communication situations. Although reports of stereotypes and evidence for male and female spoken language differences do not always coincide, they both contribute to one's understanding of sex roles and communication. This review is based on a dissertation submitted to Teachers College, Columbia University in partial 'fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree. Deep appreciation is expressed to Edward Mysak, Lois Bloom, and Mary Parlee for their useful suggestions, criticism, and encouragement. Requests for reprints should be sent to Adelaide

Gender differences in conversation topics, 1922?1990

“…The overall pattern of gender differences in conversation topics that Moore observed appears basically quite stable in subsequent studies, though Haas' (1979) prediction that conversations have changed with the times receives some support. In the studies examined here, women's share of conversations about work and money does seem to have increased since 1922, but this change is confounded with the tendency to use college-educated subjects (such as students and teachers) in recent studies.…”

“…Although Haas (1979) has suggested that gender differences in topic choice may well have changed since Moore's day, a systematic examination of trends has not been reported. Despite the considerable attention that gender differences in topic choice have received since 1922, most recent studies do not provide quantitative data about conversations held in natural settings.…”

Free Associations to the Colour Terms: Gender-Related Differences

“…In her study of 70-year-old native Maine men and women, she found that women compared with men used many more words such as lovely, delightful, wonderful, nice, pretty, cute, dearest, gentle, gaily, beautifully, lovelies, very very, devoted, meek, perfectly wonderful, and stylish. Also, according to the studies by Brandis and Henderson and Entwisle and Garvey, girls use more adjectives than boys (Haas, 1979). In present study, after comparing the number of nouns, adjectives and verbs written by male and female adults, the researcher will classify the responses as paradigmatic and syntagmatic responses which are two word association classification types of Kess.…”

“…That is, it is hypothesized that the female participants will tend to use adjectives and verbs following nouns while most of the words written by the males are nouns and nearly none of them are adjectives and verbs, as other studies have shown (Wang and Shelley, 2007). Lakoff's hypothesis is that women use evaluative adjectives more than men (Haas, 1979). Hartman (1976) tested and supported Lakoff's hypothesis.…”

The Effect of Cultural and Demographic Factors on the Perception of Product Information among Korean College Students

“…analytical and logical and females are more subjective and intuitive (Haas, 1979). Also, males use self-generated information and females use self-as well as other-generated information (Hunt and Einstein, 1981).…”