Gender Differences in Using Language

Sutria Hesti Prabawati

sutriahesti.2018@student.uny.ac.id

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.