Summary Of Ronald Macaulay's Article Sex Differences
Shenni Wang
English 0711 Section 003
Professor Elijah
Feb. 2 2015
Essay #1
Strong Claim V.S. Weak Evidence It is a stereotype that men and women use the different language pattern. Is it still a popular belief today? In the article “Sex Differences”, Ronald Macaulay claims male and female are using same format of language. Generally, people think the way women speak is indirect and hinted and men always speak languidly and rudely. Macaulay forcefully believes the difference between men and women does not exist. Although Macaulay’s claims are strong, his argument is not persuasive by weak evidences and his confusing tone. Macaulay has a very strong claim, which is sex differences in linguistic topic do not exist. For instance, in the beginning …show more content…
And a few of evidence contradict his argument. It makes readers confuse which side he stands on. For instance, he gives an example which is most of people who start learning a foreign language choose ladies’ novel for the first step because the vocabularies in women’s novel are easier to learn. This evidence shows women and men use different language format. It is opposite evidence that denies Macaulay’s claim. Otherwise it is not a scientific evidence to convince reader to believe his idea. Macaulay uses Professor Dorothea McCarthy’s article to prove his viewpoint. “One of the most consistent findings to emerge from the mass of data accumulated on language development in American white children seems to be a slight difference in favor of girls in nearly all aspects of language that have been studied” (310). This evidence just a conclusion about sex difference without any detail experiment. Additional, in this quotation, McCarthy’s language is not preciseness. He just mentions “American white children”. In fact, sex difference in language topic is a global issue. However, McCarthy only focuses on language development in American white children. He does not talk about the deference between other races. This evidence is unclear as well. McCarthy refers to “all aspects of language”. He does not give specific detail to explain the format of language and what all aspects of language are. This weak evidence is not convincible and does not relevant Macaulay’s thesis professionally. Otherwise, this research is published in 1954, which is too old to help Macaulay’s opinion. So I think it is not intensely enough to support there is no language difference between boys and girls. Macaulay also gives a research that “it is easier and more satisfying for the girl baby to imitate the mother’s speech than it is for the boy baby to imitate the father’s” (310). It is not scientific
English 0711 Section 003
Professor Elijah
Feb. 2 2015
Essay #1
Strong Claim V.S. Weak Evidence It is a stereotype that men and women use the different language pattern. Is it still a popular belief today? In the article “Sex Differences”, Ronald Macaulay claims male and female are using same format of language. Generally, people think the way women speak is indirect and hinted and men always speak languidly and rudely. Macaulay forcefully believes the difference between men and women does not exist. Although Macaulay’s claims are strong, his argument is not persuasive by weak evidences and his confusing tone. Macaulay has a very strong claim, which is sex differences in linguistic topic do not exist. For instance, in the beginning …show more content…
And a few of evidence contradict his argument. It makes readers confuse which side he stands on. For instance, he gives an example which is most of people who start learning a foreign language choose ladies’ novel for the first step because the vocabularies in women’s novel are easier to learn. This evidence shows women and men use different language format. It is opposite evidence that denies Macaulay’s claim. Otherwise it is not a scientific evidence to convince reader to believe his idea. Macaulay uses Professor Dorothea McCarthy’s article to prove his viewpoint. “One of the most consistent findings to emerge from the mass of data accumulated on language development in American white children seems to be a slight difference in favor of girls in nearly all aspects of language that have been studied” (310). This evidence just a conclusion about sex difference without any detail experiment. Additional, in this quotation, McCarthy’s language is not preciseness. He just mentions “American white children”. In fact, sex difference in language topic is a global issue. However, McCarthy only focuses on language development in American white children. He does not talk about the deference between other races. This evidence is unclear as well. McCarthy refers to “all aspects of language”. He does not give specific detail to explain the format of language and what all aspects of language are. This weak evidence is not convincible and does not relevant Macaulay’s thesis professionally. Otherwise, this research is published in 1954, which is too old to help Macaulay’s opinion. So I think it is not intensely enough to support there is no language difference between boys and girls. Macaulay also gives a research that “it is easier and more satisfying for the girl baby to imitate the mother’s speech than it is for the boy baby to imitate the father’s” (310). It is not scientific