This presentation presents initial concept of how language and gender are inter-related to each other.

1. Language and Gender
ENG 701 Introduction to Sociolinguistics
Presented by:
Gobindo Deb
Lecturer
Hamdard Unviersity Bangladesh
Gazaria, Munshiganj-1510

2. Language and Gender
1. Is there any relation between language and gender?
2. Is there any gender discrimination in language?

3. Study on Language and Gender
• American linguist Robin Lakoff (in the early 1970s)

4. Opinions about Language and Gender
• Difference approach (male and female language is dissimilar without
attributing this to the nature of the social relationship between men
and women)
• Dominance approach (language used by females and males as
reflecting established relationship of social control of the latter over
the former)

5. Relation between language and gender
• Gender bias is reflected in language both structurally and in informal
communication.

6. Gender discrimination in language
Ethnographer first drew attention to distinct female and male varieties
of language often with clear different vocabulary.
• Masculine and Feminine morphology (haunting-male word; moon-
female word etc)
• Phonological Process (left half of brain in males and both left and
right parts of brain in females)
• Anthropocentric speech (men are more important than women is often
accompanied by prejudices)
• Generic Masculine (Everyone should bring his lunch)

7. Language used by male and female is different
Key factors
1. Growing into a gender role
 Socialization (act of genderisation)
Naming Parental approval/disapproval
 Mental Make up
crying
 Playing materials
2. Gender role in adulthood
 Ability to do work (strong/less strong)

8. Language used by females/women
• Powerless, non-confrontational language
• indirect statements
It would save a lot of money if we bought a smaller car.
• tag questions
It’s not that much to ask, is it?
• use of hedges, alternatives
It’s not really that difficult. Well, why not?
We could go for a drive or a walk this afternoon.
• high rising intonation at end of sentence
We could go away for the weekend.

9. Language used by females/women
• Emotional, ‘genteel’ language
I’m delighted you’re going to help. They’re /so kind!
• use of euphemisms
If you let me know your wish.

10. Gender and power
• Role established in the society
• Role determined by society
(Women who rightly insist on equal rights as men are often regarded as
‘ungrateful’, as betraying their partners, parents, society or whatever, as
rejecting male protection and kindness. The assumption here is that if
the people in power are nice to you, you are supposed to be thankful.)

11. Social variation are related, ascribed by
Holmes (1998)
• Women
a. And men develop different language use patterns
b. Tend to focus on the affective functions of an interaction more often than
men
c. Tend to use linguistic devices that stress solidarity more often than men.
d. Tend to interact in ways that will maintain and increase solidarity, while
men tend to interact in ways that will maintain increase their power and
status; and
e. Are stylistically more flexible than men.

12. Reasons
1. Social (education, society, social stereotypes,
2. Biological