Essay on Language and Sex

Language and Sex

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Sociolinguistics can be defined as a study which focuses on association between language
and society. It focuses on different social factors which can influence the language and these are
Gender, ethnicity, age and social class, etc. Majorly, Sociolinguists conduct research on specific
functions of language which are used by different gender to convey social meaning or aspects of
their identity (Graddol and Swan, 1989). Language is an important communication tool for
individuals which can represent the perspectives of both gender. The current essay is based on
language and sex and it will focus on language usage difference between two different gender. It
will describe how language supports, efforts and maintain attitude about gender in general and in
women particular. The current essay will describe some of interpretations which have conducted
by past research scholars. Further, essay will critically analyse these interpretations and then
provide his/her own opinion about the acceptance and rejection towards the findings of
interpretations (O'Barr and Atkins, 1980). The present research will focus on key sociolinguistic
approaches, issues relevant to the association of language and gender. Further, difference
between male and female speech are also describing in the following paragraphs of the essay.
MAIN BODY
Number of approaches which help in determining relationship between language and
gender. These are biological approach, cultural approach, power and dominance approach and
social construction approach. These approaches has easily determined the reason behind the use
of different language by male and female (Beattie and Whalley, 1982).
In 1960s biological factors were considered as major factor behind the variation in
language of different gender. Along with this, biological approach was the first concern in the
field of Sociolinguistic research. Lakoff, 1975 has concluded that “lexical, phonological, and
morphological forms are considered as major base behind the difference between speech
behaviour of men and women” (Lakoff, 1975). As per this statement it can be said that voice
characteristics of typical men is quite different from voice characteristics of typical women.
Generally women have a fundamental voice frequency nearly twice as high as of men.
West and Zimmerman, 1983 has concluded that “Men and women are belonged to two
different subculture thus they uses different language for developing their own identify within
their groups or in front of society” (West and Zimmerman, 1983). Tanner and Tanner, 1990 has
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asserted that “girls or females are generally use to engage with small group or pairs” (Tanner and
Tanner, 1990). Major aim of female’s speech in their group is to build friendship, loyalty,
equality, a win-win situation and lack of desire to be a leader. Along with this, they also motivate
others for the same by their language. But on the other hand, males likes to work with large
hierarchy and organized groups. Males are more interested in power, status and control. They
want to gain participant’s attraction and win the situation by their language. They likes to
showing skills, size and dominance even when other speaks. Therefore, cultural differences
influence male and female to use different functions of language (Cameron, 2007).
Cheshire, 1982 has concluded that power and dominance is also one of the major reason
behind the use of different language (Cheshire, 1982). This is because of the communication
issues between men and women due to unequal hierarchical statuses and gender roles in society.
Generally, women’s speech is not considered as important, so, they use the linguistic forms
which are associated with the low position of society. Tag questions, question intonations,
hedges, politeness strategies, and others are the major variables of this form which are used by
women during their speech. On the other hand, men learned to dominate a conversation through
interruptions, talk time, etc. their speech focuses on power and dominance instead of politeness,
etc (Gender Differences in Language, 2016). So, gender is one of the major aspect which can
differentiate the use of language.
Trudgill, 1983 has concluded that social constructionist is also one of the important
approach which may have influence on use of language by different gender (Trudgill, 1983).
These approach does not only focus on social constructs but also relationship between gender
and other aspect of identity. Therefore, relationship between different individuals may vary the
language use.
Overall, major interpretations have reflected that there are different reasons because of
them language and gender are interrelated. These reasons are biology, culture, power and
dominance and social constructionist. Critical analysis of these statements have reflected that
biological aspects and cultural aspects are the major reason behind the use different functions of
the language by male and females. Gender uses those functions of language which show power
and dominance (Language and Gender: A Reading List, 2011). But on the other hand women
language is associated with the politeness, tag questions and hedges, etc. Along with this, social
relationship with the other aspects of identity also affect the use of language by male and female.
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