语言性别差异研究

Language Gender DifferencesTable of Contents Abstract (I)Introduction (1)1 Domestic and International Background of the Research in Language andGender (1)2. Aim and Function of this Research (1)Chapter One Gender Differences in Language (2)1.1 The aspects of pronunciation and Intonation (2)1.2Lexical Items Aspects (3)1.2.1Females grasp color words better than males (3)1.2.2Females prefer to use emotional words than males (3)1.2.2.1 The use of adjectives (4)1.2.2.2 The use of adverbs (4)1.2.2.3 Intimate words (4)1.3 Syntactic Aspects (4)1.4 Speech style (5)1.5 Daily Conversation (5)1.5.1 Differences in Topic Selection (5)1.5.2Difference in the Choice of Words (6)1.5.3Difference in Conversation Quantity (6)1.5.4Difference in cooperation (6)Chapter Two Possible Causes of Language Differences in Gender (7)2.1Culture Factors (7)2.2Society Factors (8)2.2.1Social Status (8)2.2.2 Definition of Gender Role (8)2.3Physiology Factor (9)2.4Psychological Factor (9)2.5 Personal Experiences (9)Conclusion (10)Bibliography (11)AbstractGender difference is a popular research topic for many disciplines, and linguistics is no exception. The study of gender differences in language sociolinguistics has been the focus of on of the issues. Since the nineties of last century onwards until the early twenty-first century, due to the impact of the wave of globalization, the development studies of language and gender have stepped into a very active period, showing a diverse, dynamic, and localized trend.Our paper focuses on the differences in language and gender and we attempt to penetrate the causes of these differences. We analyze differences from the aspects of phonetics, lexical level, syntactic level, speech style and conversation. By comparing their differences, we want to probe the reasons that lead to such phenomenon .In the end of our paper, we also want to point out the trend of the language changes in gender.Key words: English linguistic, gender differences, causesIntroduction1 Domestic and International Background of the Research in Language and GenderThe study of this topic began in the late seventies of and the early eighties, later to the West. The initial research results are mostly in English translation and introduce the gender discrimination and gender differences. Since the eighties, our researchers were relatively independent of academic language in the form of gender issues surrounding the study and presented some of the research topic. Overall view, the research of language and gender covers the following aspects: from the differences the appearance of voice tone, word choice, syntax choice, choice of different language to the deep-seated gender discrimination, social gender differences and the relationship between language use , gender differences in verbal communication, gender impact of the use of language and so on. These studies open up a new field of language study, has a very important practical significance on social development and human progress. Issues of language and gender are popular between linguistic and sociolinguistic study as an important component of language vocabulary system. Appellations also have gender differences. However, among our language scholars, the title of Gender Studies is basically a piece of virgin land not cultivated. Appellation and the genders have a very close relationship, the two are inseparable. Change of address forms to reflect the social culture, impacts on men and women and different social expectations, and the semantics of Appellations can reflect the social and cultural awareness of gender bias attitudes. At the same time, gender restricts the production and development of appellations. Thus, the study of gender differences has much room for development.2. Aim and Function of this ResearchThis paper aims to exam gender differences in language performance, explore new areas of gender studies language, enrich the content of the study, find the methods of exploration, gender usage, and explore its hidden reasons for the social and cultural history. Theoretically, it helps us to deepen the understanding of the universal law of language system, to broaden our research horizons; help explain language development and changes, and find out external factors impact on the structure of language itself. From a practical sense, it can help people become more aware of the similarities and differences between men and women in the use of language and has practical significance communication and understanding. From a social sense, the study of gender differences in language can regulate some of the disputed phenomenon of social communication, play a correct orientation effect on the social construction and play an active role on spiritual and material civilizationChapter One Gender Differences in Language Jespersen is the earliest linguists that note the difference of linguistic gender. According to her observation, American women like using hedge, booster, and expletive. On the use of syntactic, they often use addition questions and excessively polite and correct form. In pronunciation, they often use the rising tone after the declarative sentence. So, next, I will introduce you their differences. Differences are as below:1.1 The aspects of pronunciation and IntonationWomen generally keep highly sensitivity in the correctness of pronunciation and intonation. They are more inclined to use the pronunciation way which is standard, authoritative. Generally speaking, women speak with the rising tone, changing tone and expressive. But when men speak,they always use the falling tone and the tone changes little. Secondly, the female's intonation pattern is hesitant, feeble, high tones and expressive. And men's intonation pattern is smooth and firm. And their expression is insufficient, sometimes almost monotonous. For example, when we ask the question that “When will the dinner be ready?”Women will use the rising tone of interrogative sentences to answer that “Oh, around six o‟clock.” Instead, men will use positive tone of falling replied: "Seven o 'clock.".1.2Lexical Items Aspects1.2.1Females grasp color words better than malesGenerally speaking, females are more sensitive about color words. They are good at using color words borrowed from grammar, such as light purple, amaranth, and taupe, which sounds elegant. Thus females are believed to use elegant color words, however, males do not resort to these words, in fact, and they have no interest in color words. The reason for this phenomenon is that women usually talk about colorful clothes. From aesthetic perspective, the external beauty they feel is more profound than males.1.2.2Females prefer to use emotional words than malesFemales like to use emotional words in language activities, such as praise words, polite words and emphasize words. According to a research, women use emotional words frequently just twice as much as men. They are good at using language expression means and portrayed means, whose purposes are not to flatter the other person, but to make the conversation come to the point, which can contribute to a pleasant conversation. In spoken English, we can notice that women use more adjectives, adverbs and intimate words to show emotions than men.1.2.2.1 The use of adjectivesWomen are found to overuse some exaggerated adjectives. Although these words are also used by men, yet the occasion and meaning are different.1.2.2.2 The use of adverbsFemales use adverbs of degree more frequently than males to emphasize. They often use such adverbs to express trivia, while males are apt to use toner weaker words when they want to emphasize. Maybe this has something to do with male‟s characteristics.1.2.2.3 Intimate wordsWomen are supposed to be gentle, kind and virtuous. V ery likely, they use high-level intimate words in language to show adoration, care and love to the listener. From this, we can conclude that emotional words become communicative lubricants; they also show that women‟s emotion is easy to perform. Females are better good at using euphemistic terms than males, there is no doubt that women are careful in choosing words appearance, figure and age. This is mainly because that if women often use rude words, they will be supposed to be uneducated and vulgar. While in daily life, men usually use strong expletives, such as shit, hell, damn and so on.1.3 Syntactic AspectsIn the grammatical structure, gender language mainly divided into three aspects.Firstly, women most use mudra structure. Namely, the modal verb can, could, shall, should, will, would, may and might use with other auxiliary verbs. This reflects women‟s uncertain thethings what are happening around them. Usually men will use a few positive, authoritative andimperative words.Secondly, women tend to use women tend to use. In contrast, men use more statements and omission WH -questions. For example, "this program is very exciting, isn't it?" Men's tendency to seldom use tag questions shows their confidence of using language and strength. The tendency of women more use tag questions shows their uncertainty to language.Thirdly, men tend to use the imperative. They generally uses simple and directly order form.Such as: Pass me a cup of tea! But women usually use direct circuitous structure. For example:Would you pass me a cup of tea?1.4 Speech styleIn traditional society，men dominate the dominant position, while women are subordinate status. This is what makes them differ in topic control, conversation conversion, diction color, etc.Men are prone to be manipulative, and always hope to utilize his likes and dislikes to control conversation. Language experts put this difference in the verbal communication style into two categories: “powerful style” and “powerless style”.1.5 Daily Conversation1.5.1 Differences in Topic SelectionIn daily conversation, we usually find that men and women hoose their topics from different aspects. Generally, women tend to talk about personal, or things connected with current issues. However, males are apt to talk about the opposite topics. They seldom confide secrets to others directly and often keep acertain distance with current surroundings. In addition, they also choose words they use differently.1.5.2Difference in the Choice of WordsIn male and female discourse, differences in diction can be found. There are great gender differences in the choice of words. For example, women are found to use more qualifiers and intensifiers such as so, really, very and absolutely. Women are more often use polite expression, including please, thank you, you are so kind, as well as embedded imperative, e.g. Will you please close the door? They seldom use dirt and coarse language, and they usually use beautiful and delicate words this is all because women have no power in society and they use such kind of language to show that they are unsure about what they say.1.5.3Difference in Conversation QuantityAs to conversation quantity, people hold a fairly common and stereotyped perspective that women talk more than men. However, it is not the case. For example, someone once constantly observed a couple for 3 hours in a social party. He found that in this period the husband‟s talking is five times as many as his wife. But afterwards, when asking the other people to present impression to the couple, unexpectedly everyone said that the husband didn‟t say much while the wife was talkative.So far, almost all of the investigation and study have reached a conclusion that was opposite to people‟s fixed idea: namely male discourse quantity is more than women.1.5.4Difference in cooperationGenerally, women are comparatively more cooperative in the conversation performance. They usually take turns. But in comparison, men show their strong competition in the conversation. They tend to control the choice of topic and the opportunity to discourse, and would not easily concede speech right. In the conversation, men convert and jump their topic frequently without consistency. They are not aware of listener‟s reaction and participation. Of course, when someone is talking, they reflect slowly, probablyfudged. And they seldom agree with what others said. During the conversation, men often interrupt others with direct and stiff tone. Hence, conversation between males is often with trace of loud voice, conflict and assault. Quarrel, roar, curses, threat, and mocking are more notable than women.It‟s easy to find that heterosexual conversation is basically under the control of men. One of the reasons is that women are more cooperative, implicative, and ready to listen to others‟opinions with active reaction. Nevertheless, men are more prone to seize opportunities, and often interrupt others. Thus causes women‟s silent reaction.Chapter Two Possible Causes of Language Differences in GenderFrom the differences in linguistic and gender mentioned above, it is easy for us to find the gender differences in English language. Then it comes to reveal the possible cause of this kind of differences. Because language is closed related to society, psychology, culture, individual features and so on, we try to analyze from 5 aspects. They are culture, society, psychology, physiology, and individual experience.2.1Culture FactorsLanguage is the carrier of culture, which at the same time, restricts the language. Women‟s speech just reflects the cultural expectations which call for niceness, politeness and ladylike expression, which is educated diction, avoiding bad words. At the same time, sexual terms are more acceptable to be used by men, who will be regarded as “one of the guys”. A culture usually divides behaviors into masculine and feminine. In our culture we are likely to regard the men who show the behaviors, styles, or interests that are usually attached to women as “womanish” and to call the boys who behave in this way “sissies.” Women who have interests that usually belong tomen are referred to as “manish” and the girls who behave in this way are often called “tomboys.” As a result, even a little boy, knows the way in which he should behave himself, for he is afraid of being referred to as “sissy”. In one word, no matter a man or a woman has to pay attention to his or her speech and behavior because there is a division given out by their culture, which is deep-rooted in their mind.2.2Society Factors2.2.1Social StatusThere is no denying that it is a society which men are superior to women. Men hold absolute dominance, while women are put into secondary status. This reason can best explain why women are indirect in proposing their request even orders.2.2.2 Definition of Gender RoleWith regard to gender roles, they are referr ed to as the …social definition‟ of women and men. No matter in which society and culture, it seems that the definition of gender role is similar. Women are responsible for the domestic affaires and men try to make money to support his family. As a result, men and women are different from each other in topic selection in conversation. It is the Social values that confine female speakers to certain topics such as child-bearing, personal relationships. Besides, as a mean of communication, language, for most women, is mainly helpful to establish harmonious interpersonal relationship. For most men it is a means to preserve authority and maintain status in a competitive society. What‟s more, according to past sociolinguistic studies, harmony-seeking can be considered as of inferior social status among men. Therefore, the reason for their different communication styles is that in fact the purposes they use language in conversation are not the same.2.3Physiology FactorThere is a famous saying that men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Certainly we can not therefore attribute the difference between women and men to this saying. Thanks to modern science which has provided some credible evidence. It has been widely known that language ability is controlled by the left part of the brain. However, researchers from Georgetown University headed by Michael Ullman recently claim that boys and girls tend to use different parts of their brain to learn some fundamental parts of grammar and certain diction learning. This study may explain the difference between men and women in diction the correctness of grammar.2.4Psychological FactorIn most English speaking communities, it has been discovered that women are more careful than men. And they are quiet, gentle, emotional and always look forward to male‟s protection and a sense of security. While men are brave, impulsive, adventurous and sometimes careless. Accordingly, women tend to use more standard or educated expressions in their speeches. Besides it has been suggested that men tend to think logically, while women are likely to think emotionally. This point may best testify that when in face of unlucky events or complains, men will try to come up with a solution while women try to show their sympathy.2.5 Personal ExperiencesDefinitely, the gender difference is related to one‟s own growing experiences. A boy, when he is asked to be the leader from a very early age, will use more ordered patterns in his language. On the contrary, a boy , who grow up with women surrounded and without men taught, may be will be the so-called “sissies.” And he will be less confident and powerful.ConclusionBy and large, gender difference, as a social phenomenon, has been reflected in language and been studied in many separate areas for a long time. In the past decades, sociolinguistic research dealing with relationship between gender difference and language has undergone significant change and gain full development. This paper surveys the results from the current and previous researches, and our ideas and comprehension are added as well. We attempt to find analyze the differences and penetrate into the causes of these differences.We can see that with time passing by, there are less and less differences in language and gender. However, there is no denying that the differences will exist permanently.It should be pointed out that the way is still endless for researchers to disclose more and more detailed difference between male and female speakers as well as their specific causes, which is of great values in the field of English teaching and learning as well as cross-cultural exchanges.Near the end, what we want to emphases is that with the limitation of our knowledge, the resources that we can get, the time left for us and so forth, mistakes is inevitable. And we appreciate your advices and guides.Bibliography[1]Thorne. B.et al. Language, Gender, Society. [M] .New York: Newbury House, 1983.[2]Zhu Manzhu. Psychological Linguistic. [M ].Shanghai. East China Normal University Press,1990[3] Zhao Ronghui. Language and Gender. [M].Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2003.[4]Jespersen, O.1922. Language: Its Nature，Development，and Origin.[M].London: Allen and Unwin.。