Gender linguistics
The gender linguistics is a branch of sociolinguistics and deals with gender varieties of language .
Questions
The main questions in gender linguistics are:
- Is there a connection between specific language usage (structure, usage and vocabulary) and the social roles of men and women? If so, to what extent?
- Do men and women use specific language differently?
- Do the linguistic differences reflect relationships between the sexes?
- Is the language structure itself responsible for any differences?
- Is a language sexist or is it rather the speakers that make it sexist?
development
In 1975 Robin Lakoff published her work Language and Women's Place , in which she presented her theory of the different vocabularies of men and women. Deborah Tannen goes even further in the 1990s and compares communication between the sexes with intercultural communication . Since then, gender linguistics has been a highly controversial area of linguistics.
Theories of Gender Linguistics
The following overview is taken from a compilation by Gisela Klann-Delius (2006).
Deficit model
The deficit model is based on the theories of Lakoff and Kramer and is considered to be the origin of gender linguistics. Hence, it underlies most of the early studies of gender and language.
She regards the male language as normative and the female as “intellectually inferior”. The deficit model understands gender as an independent, isolated main variable of language and is based on the following assumptions:
- Belonging to a gender of the speaker allows the recipient to filter out clear interpretations.
- Gender as such influences language behavior.
- Men and women have two different varieties of the same language. One speaks here of a gender lect
Criticism of the model
- Just understanding gender as a variable for language usage completely disregards other, quite influential, variables.
- It has not been conclusively proven that the assumptions are correct.
Dominance theory
The main proponents of this theory are O'Barr , William and Bowman, Atkins. The dominance theory is very similar to the older deficit model, with the feminine language only being viewed as socially inferior. In principle, the proponents of the dominance theory assume that differences in gender-specific language result from differences in the distribution of power and in access to power.
Model of the silent group
Ardener is considered to be the founder of this theory, which is often used as the basis for studies when it comes to investigating sexism in language. Its key messages include:
- that women have marked deficits in language behavior, as they had no opportunity to develop their own language.
- that these deficits are due to a lack of social power and overwhelming male dominance.
- the assumption that women have a lower level of linguistic variation
- the assumption that women have lower language skills because the male language is like a foreign language to women.
Criticism of the model
- Contrary to this theory, the sexes do not form a uniform group.
- Differences in language proficiency could not be proven.
- This model denies any development in the place of women against male oppression.
Speech style model
The main developers here are the linguists Giles, Bourhis , Taylor and Williams. They regard gender as the primary characteristic for group formation and all other factors as modifiers. Accordingly, language behavior is seen as a symbol of group membership. In order to maintain the vitality and consistency of the group, one resorts to factors such as status, demographics and institutional support. The language style model is the first gender linguistic model to recognize the mediating influence of other factors besides gender.
Criticism of the model
- The influence of gender on language as a means of social interaction is only viewed superficially.
- The necessary scientific review of the theses is still missing.
Strategy theory
The sociolinguists Brown and Levinson attempted the relationships between the social structures of societies, the gender of their members and the reflection of socio- psychological perspectives of individuals and their communicative behavior using the strategy model . The communicative behavior is regulated by communication strategies, which are determined by the characteristics of the culturally bound social relationships. The strategy theory neither establishes a fixed relationship between gender and linguistic behavior, nor does it assume a direct possibility of interpreting language patterns on the basis of gender. The strategy model emphasizes that the gender of the speaker does not form the open linguistic expression, but the communication strategy. The common concept in the strategy model is the range of interactive rules.
Two cultures model
The two-culture model was created by Deborah Tannen and became the first gender linguistic model to be perceived by the general public. In her book You just don't understand me , she explains her model and states that men and women basically pursue different communication principles. These differences are so significant that, according to Tannen, it is advisable to apply the maxims of intercultural communication according to Gumperz when communicating between the sexes . These differences in the principles of communication resulted from socialization in same-sex circles of friends and were particularly evident in the basic goals of communication. According to Tannen, men pursue a strategy of competition while women tend to cooperate.
Criticism of the model
- The von Tannen model is one of the most heavily criticized models of all. The first point of criticism is that same-sex circles of friends have not been empirically proven and are unrealistic.
- The second point represents the socialization itself. The first socialization takes place in the family, where there is no gender segregation.
Doing-gender model
The founders of the doing gender model are West , Zimmermann and Fenstermaker; where they strictly applied the conversational analysis hypotheses in their model. According to their understanding, gender is not a given from the outset, but rather it is the result of concrete social interaction and therefore just as much a social construct as race or social class . Furthermore, they assume that it is not gender that determines the individual way of speaking, but that it is conversational behavior that determines gender identity. This provision involves a whole complex of socially guided, perceptual, interactive and micropolitical activities whereby certain strivings of an individual are seen as expressions of masculine or feminine nature.
Criticism of the model
- The doing gender model poses a methodological problem as it is difficult to prove outside of theory, as it cannot have a common objective point of reference.
- In addition, it is difficult to study this model scientifically without anticipating possible differences.
Multiple Social Practices Model
Based on the doing gender model, Eckert and McConnell-Ginet developed the model of multiple social practices. Here, too, gender and language use are understood as social, locally produced constructs of interaction. The emphasis here is on the conception of social community and its practices. This model completely dispenses with the assumption that there are clearly defined opposites. Searching for gender differences in linguistic usage is seen as a perspective that exclusively strengthens the male - female polarity and unconsciously maintains the traditional binary concept of gender and additionally confirms prejudices. To avoid precisely this, the model of multiple social practices is used. The principles here are:
- Gender is just one of many important factors.
- Gender is produced by varying degrees of membership in community communities.
- Application communities are communities of people who come together for a mutual dialogue in a common effort.
- Speaking is a complex articulation by the individual of the forms of participation in other communities that stand out at the moment.
Criticism of the model
- The model has not yet been sufficiently confirmed in empirical studies.
- In addition, it has not yet specifically formulated the methodology of how to filter out the types of participation of individuals in conversations.
See also
- Feminist linguistics (social science discipline)
Portal women: gender language - current materialsliterature
- Helga Kotthoff , Damaris Nübling : Gender Linguistics: An Introduction to Language, Conversation and Gender. Narr Francke Attempto, Tübingen December 2018, ISBN 978-3-8233-7913-3 ( excerpt in the Google book search).
- Susanne Günthner, Dagmar Hüpper, Constanze Spieß (eds.): Gender linguistics: Linguistic constructions of gender identity. Gruyter, Berlin April 2012, ISBN 978-3-11-027287-1 (collection of essays; excerpt in the Google book search).
Individual evidence
- ^ Ronald Wardhaugh: Gender. Chapter in: Same: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. 5th edition. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2006, ISBN 978-1-4051-8668-1 , pp. 315-335 (English; page views in the Google book search).
- ^ Gisela Klann-Delius : Gender and language. In: Ulrich Ammon , Norbert Dittmar u. a. (Ed.): Sociolinguistics: An International Handbook of the Science of Language and Society. 2nd, completely revised and enlarged edition. Volume 2. Gruyter, Berlin 2005, ISBN 978-3-11-017148-8 , pp. 1564–1581 (English; page views in the Google book search).