This document discusses cultural factors that influence differences in how men and women communicate. It provides examples of proverbs from different cultures that portray stereotypes about women talking more than men or their tongues never being still. Theories discussed include that female speech is different because the female sex is seen as subordinate, and that women use language to develop and maintain relationships through solidarity and focus more on the affective functions of interactions. Acculturation from a young age where girls are encouraged to be "little ladies" who speak less in public is also discussed. An example of gender differences in language use in the Malagasy community is given where women use more direct and explicit language while men communicate more subtly and indirectly to avoid losing face.

1. Proverbs
 Women‟s tongues are like lamb‟s tails –
they are never still. (English)
 TheNorth Sea will sooner be found
wanting in water than a woman at loss for
words. (Jutland)
 Nothingis so unnatural as a talkative man
or a quiet woman. (Scottish)

2. A woman‟s tongue is the last thing about
her that dies. (Chinese)
 Thewoman with active hands and feet,
marry her, but, the woman with
overactive mouth, leave her alone.
(Maori)
 Three women make a market. (Japanese)

3. 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)

4.  Why do we have these preconceptions or
stereotypes?
 Why do men and women speak
differently?

5. Cultural Factor
 The
Difference Approach (Deborah
Tannen)

6. 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.

7. 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)

9. 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)

10. Boys Girls
b. In giving commands
‘Get off me steps.’ Let‟s go around the
corner.‟
‘Look man, gimme „„We could go round
the headphones.’ looking for more
bottles.‟

11. 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)

12. 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.

13. 3. Affective communication
 Women tend to focus on the affective
functions of an interaction more often
than men do. (Holmes, 1998)

14. Eg.

15. 4. Acculturation
 As children, women are encouraged to
be “little ladies.”
(Lakoff, 1975)

16. Eg.
 Women are not prone to talk in public
 Social activities
 Meetings, etc.
 Because
 Public display
 Sensitive of other‟s reactions

17. 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

18.  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