Genderlect Theory Final
Running Head: Genderlect Styles Theory
Genderlect Styles Theory: A Look Within
Amanda L. Tanner
Mansfield University
Introduction
Genderlect is a concept that originated in early sociolinguistics which compares and contrasts male and female speech styles. Male and female speech styles are defined as “two stable, clear-cut, and opposite gendered varieties” (256). Genderlect can be described as a linguistic variety or code used predominantly by one sex/gender. Genderlect is speech that contains features that mark it as characteristically male or female. It is not limited to speech, genderlect can also be extended to include features of nonverbal communication as well. The notion of genderlects strengthens discourses that emphasize differences between men and women and which cover up the huge area of similarity in female and male language behavior. In the following, I will look into the history, application, and critique of this theory to better explain communication between men and women.
Summary
Historically, genderlect appeared in the 1970’s when Chreris Kramer when she published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech. This article considers evidence for the existence of sex-linked systems of language use. The concept of ‘genderlect’ discusses men and women language variations, occurred first in gender-oriented sociolinguistic literature styles of the 70’s. These works focus on style. Utilizing either male or female styles, they paved the way for this theory’s growth. The influence of gender upon communication has intrigued many over the past two decades. Genderlect theory has led scholars to do research for systematic linguistic correlates of women’s and men’s language use. This is mainly phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics, and suprasegmental phonemes features that are related to the sound of speech such as pitch, stress patterns, and intonation. Specifically, sociolinguists are
Genderlect Styles Theory: A Look Within
Amanda L. Tanner
Mansfield University
Introduction
Genderlect is a concept that originated in early sociolinguistics which compares and contrasts male and female speech styles. Male and female speech styles are defined as “two stable, clear-cut, and opposite gendered varieties” (256). Genderlect can be described as a linguistic variety or code used predominantly by one sex/gender. Genderlect is speech that contains features that mark it as characteristically male or female. It is not limited to speech, genderlect can also be extended to include features of nonverbal communication as well. The notion of genderlects strengthens discourses that emphasize differences between men and women and which cover up the huge area of similarity in female and male language behavior. In the following, I will look into the history, application, and critique of this theory to better explain communication between men and women.
Summary
Historically, genderlect appeared in the 1970’s when Chreris Kramer when she published in the Quarterly Journal of Speech. This article considers evidence for the existence of sex-linked systems of language use. The concept of ‘genderlect’ discusses men and women language variations, occurred first in gender-oriented sociolinguistic literature styles of the 70’s. These works focus on style. Utilizing either male or female styles, they paved the way for this theory’s growth. The influence of gender upon communication has intrigued many over the past two decades. Genderlect theory has led scholars to do research for systematic linguistic correlates of women’s and men’s language use. This is mainly phonology, syntax, morphology, semantics, and suprasegmental phonemes features that are related to the sound of speech such as pitch, stress patterns, and intonation. Specifically, sociolinguists are