性别因素对英语使用的影响

Gender Effects on the Use of English

by

Under the Supervision of

Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts

School of Foreign Studies

Shandong University of Finance and Economics

May 2013

Acknowledgements

It would not be possible for me to complete this thesis without the generous help of many people.

First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my supervisor Prof. Mo Zhenyin, under whose supervision I have obtained valuable ideas and precious suggestions. He is very intelligent on thesis instruction and also shows his great patience and earnestness to me during my writing.

My thanks are also extended to other beloved teachers in the School of Foreign Studies of Shandong University of Finance and Economics, for their valuable and informative courses which have benefited me a lot during my four-year college life. In the last place, I owe my deep thanks to my roommates who have been encouraging me all the time.

ABSTRACT

Gender Effects on the Use of English

Language plays an important role in our society. As a social phenomenon, language reflects almost all aspects of our human society in a natural way, including the effects of gender difference on the use of language.

This thesis is divided into three chapters. The first chapter introduces an overview of Gender Schema Theory. Chapter two is intended to analyze the representations and features of gender effects on the use of English language mainly in terms of phonetic differences, intonation differences, vocabulary differences, grammatical differences and communicational differences before discussing the reasons why gender influences the use of language in chapter three, mainly involving historical, social and psychological factors.

Key words: gender factor; the use of English; effect; gender difference

摘要

性别因素对英语使用的影响

语言在社会中的地位非常重要。语言作为一种社会现象，必然会反映出人类社会的各种社会观念，包括男女性别差异对语言使用的影响。

本文共分三章。第一章介绍了性别图示理论的概述。第二章旨在分析性别因素在英语使用中的表现及特征，主要探讨语音差异、语调差异、词汇差异、语法差异和交际差异等几个方面的表现，同时还在第三章中探讨了造成性别因素影响语言使用的原因，其中包括历史、社会和心理等几个方面。

关键词：性别因素；英语使用；影响；性别差异

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements (iii)

Abstract (iv)

Abstract in Chinese (v)

Introduction (1)

Chapter One An Overview of Gender Schema Theory (3)

Chapter Two Gender Effects on the Use of English Language (5)

I. Effects on Phonetics (5)

II. Effects on Intonation (6)

III. Effects on V ocabulary (6)

IV. Effects on Grammar (7)

V. Effects on Communicational Behaviors (8)

Chapter Three Reasons for Gender Effects on English Language (9)

I. Historical Factors (9)

II.Social Factors (9)

III. Psychological Factors (11)

Conclusion (12)

Works Cited (13)