Gender
Differences in Using Language
Sutria
Hesti Prabawati
Introduction
Language
and gender itself is an area of study within sociolibguistics, applied
linguistics, and related fields that investigates varieties of speech
associated with a particular gender or social norms for such gendered language
use.
Sociolinguistics
places the position of language concerning the use of language in society, so
that it sees language as a social system and a communication system. language
use is a form of social interaction. This language is not only an individual
symptom, but also as a social phenomenon. As a social phenomenon, language and
language use are not only determined by linguistic factors, but are also
influenced by social and situational factors. Social factors for example:
social status, education level, age, economic level, gender, etc. Situational
factors for example: who speaks, in what language, to whom, when, where, and on
what issues. Distinguishing aspects of language that do not always exist in
language, namely gender. According to the study there are indeed a number of
communities of male speech by female speech. Sex in this chapter is intended to
be the sex of the speakers of a language. In the use of language the
relationship between language, vocabulary, and gender of the speaker can be
reviewed sociolinguistically.
Literature Review
Research
focusing on the relationship between language and gender was pioneered by Robin
Tolmach Lakoff. In his book Language and Women’s Place (1975), he put forward a
theory about the existence of women's language. Lakoff states that there are
many things that underlie the emergence of differences between women and men in
language. Described that male language is more assertive, mature, and men like
to speak openly with the right vocabulary. However, the language used by women
is not assertive, not openly (using figurative words), and careful when expressing
something, and often uses finer and polite words or through cues (metapesan).
In addition, according to Lakoff, if a woman feels unsure of a problem, she
will question herself and not have confidence in themselves. Therefore, many
problems that arise end in question marks (Lakoff, 2004; Kuntjara, 2004: 3-4).
Lakoff
(1975) states that there are some linguistic features used by women, namely
color words, empty adjectives, question intonation / intonational pattern, hedge,
intensifier, hypercorrect grammar, super polite form, question tag, avoidance
of strong swear words, and emphatic stressful.
a. Color
words
Women
are considered to have a more detailed and thorough nature compared to Male.
This can be seen from the many vocabularies that are owned by women in the
matter of interest, for example in the realm of colors. When mentioning color an
object, women not only mention the colors that are commonly used, for example
red, purple, blue, etc., but they divide the colors mentioned in smaller
groups, for example beige (a pale creamy brown color), aquamarine
(greenish-blue color), lavender (pale purple color), and others. These types of
color vocabulary are rarely or even never used by men.
b. Empty
adjectives
Lakoff
said that there are adjectives that have a tendency more widely used by women,
where the adjective is called empty adjective. Empty adjective is an adjective
used by women to express an acceptance and admiration for something, for
example gorgeous, fabulous, lovely, charming, divine, adorable, and others.
c. Question
intonation / intonational pattern
Sentence
intonation patterns (in English) used by women in in answering a question with
a statement using the intonation pattern height like the pattern of yes-no
question questions. The reason women use this kind of statement is because they
are not sure of their own statement.
d. Hedge
Women
often use that phrase shows that they feel unsure of what is said, the
expression This is called a hedge. There are several words that can be grouped
into in a hedge, for example well, you know, kinda, sort of, like, I guess, I
think, seems like, kind of and others. When someone uses a hedge, it's actually
a speaker avoids expressing certainty and allowing choice that remains open.
e. Intensive
The
intensifier is also called the "warmer", which is the word,
especially the word information used to emphasize adjectives, verbs, or another
adverb (Cambridge Advanced Leaner’s Dictionary). As an example is the sentence
an extremely large man. The word extremely is intensifier. In addition, the
word so, very, totally is also an example of the intensifier. Kind of words
like this is considered a characteristic of female language because this word
contains emotional side that is closely related to the speech of a woman.
f. Hypercorrect
grammar
Hypercorrect
grammar can refer to the use of English which is in accordance with standard
rules. In several studies that have been carried out by some experts, mentioned
that women are more inclined to using standard language forms rather than men.
for example, Holmes (1995) states that the linguistic forms used by women and
men are different at different levels in all speech environments. He added that
there is an assumption that women have more polite speech than Male.
g. Super
polite form
The use of very polite speech forms (super
polite form) is considered as something that should be done by women. Girl too must
use expressions often, such as please and thank you to keep up social
convention.
h. Guestions
tag
The
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary mentions the question tag is an
expression at the end of a sentence to emphasize, this is usually used to get
approval or to confirm something information. Question tags are also used when
a speaker states something, but he felt insecure about what he said. In
addition, question tags are one of the methods used by someone as a tool for
politeness. Then, it also provides details of the function of the tag question,
which is expressing uncertainty 'showing uncertainty', positive politeness the
device op positive politeness tool ’, soften a directive / a criticism‘ softens
speech directives / criticisms', and confrontial / coercive devices' tools to
force '.
i. Avoidance
of strong swear words
Words
are words used to give emphasis to what they want to say and to be a way to
insult something or someone. Speech (a) is considered to be a more used
utterance by women, while (b) is considered more often used by men. Male and women
have different forms of expression for something, for example the expressions
of shit, hell, damn, bloody hell, etc. have more tendencies widely used by men,
while women will use Good heavens, oh my goodness, my goodness, oh dear, my
dear, and so on.
j. Emphatic
stress
This
characteristic is defined as an expression of uncertainty by using the
expression of the speaker himself, although this expression can be seen
otherwise. what Lakoff meant was that emphatic stress has a function to give the
emphasis on speech when the speaker is unsure of what is being said he said, so
that the interlocutor will feel confident in what he is convey. For example, it
was a brilliant performance. The word brilliant is emphatic stress used to
emphasize the word performance.
General assumptions already imply that
women and men are different in using language because in terms of their sex is
different. Linguists agree that the different characteristics of the language
used between men and women can be observed and distinguished. It is believed
that it cannot be contested in people's lives. Intersexuality is an anomaly in
people's lives. That men and women speak differently is very natural (Coulmas,
2005: 36).
In 1922, through his writing
entitled Language; its nature, development and origin, Jesperson states that
women tend to have a little vocabulary, use adjectives and adverbs with
frequency high, use complex sentences in low frequency, as well as often stop at
mid sentence because they say something without thinking first.
Sumarsono (2008) states that there
are several factors related to language differences between men and women,
including sound and intonation. In society, there are two sexes recognized,
male and female. In relation to the use of language, according to
sociolinguistics, it can be seen that there are different kinds of speech used
by men and women. To facilitate understanding, then men will be abbreviated as
L and women will be remembered as P. Language differences that are not always
available in language, namely gender.
Language
and Gender Consist of
1. Minimal
Response
Minimal
response is one of the ways in which the communicative behavior of men and
women differ. For example:
a. Women:
Women has response
frequently when they have a conversation like ‘hmm’ and ‘yeah’, which is
behavior associated with collaborative their language use.
b. Men:
Men has response less than women
when they have a conversation. They generally use ‘hmm’ and ‘yeah’ less
frequently.
2. Question
Men
and women differ in their use of questions in conversations.
a. Women:
Women use question more
frequently. They usually used question tag to avoid making strong statements.
Women used questions to
upward mobility
Women used questions to
insecurity
Women used questions to
sensitivity to others
Women usually do not to
do point when they want to ask something, that very different with men.
b. Men:
Men’s language is heard
Men used questions as
clearly their toughness
Men used questions as
independence
Men used questions as
competence
Men usually ask something to do
point that different with women.
3. Turn-Taking
Turn-taking
gives rices to complex forms of interaction in relation to the more regimented
form of turn-taking. Female linguistic behavior characteristically encompasses
a desire to take turns in conversation with other, which is opposed to men’s
tendency towards centering on their own point or remaining silent when
presented with such implicit offers of conversational turn-taking as are
provided by hedges such as and “isn’t it”.
4. Changing
the topic of conversation
The
difference may well be at the root of the conception that women chatter and
talk too much and may still sparker the same thinking in some males. In this
way lowered estimation of women may arise.
- Women’s
topic: Gossip, men, shopping,
child-rearing, or personal relationship.
- Men’s
topic: Film, sport, women, politic, or cars.
5. Self-disclosure
Self-disclosure is the process was
originally defined as telling others about the self. Example:
a.Women sharing their problems and
experiences with others, often to offer sympathy. They usually asked their
friend about their problems.
b.Men tendencies to
non-self-disclosure and professing advice or offering a solution when
confronted with another’s problems. Because man usually solve their problems by
themselves.
6. Verbal
Aggression
a. Women
engange in kros, or “angry talk”, which is typically characterized by
vituperative and brazen displays of insults and shouting.
b. Men
focused on the down play of conflict in order to maintain or at least give the
illusion of harmony.
7. Politeness
Politeness
is best expressed as the practical application of good manners or etiquette.
According
to Lakoff (1975), he identified three forms of politeness:
a. Formal
Politeness
Generally accepted
formal standards usually denote professionalism, whereas the absence or lack of
standards would be seen as casual.
b. Deference
Politeness
Deference politeness is
the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one’s
superior or superiors.
c. Camaraderie
Politeness
Camaraderie is goodwill
and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship. It is usually
used when we speak with our friends.
Conclusion
There
are many differences between women’s language and men’s language. We can see
that by minimal response side, question side, turn-taking side, changing the
topic of conversation side, self-disclosure side, verbal aggression side, and
politeness side.
