The Study of Gender Difference in Attitude Toward Rapport-Talk
The Study of Gender Difference in Attitude toward Rapport-talk
Yuan Long
East Tennessee State University
Abstract
In this paper, the gender difference in attitude toward rapport-talk was discussed. According to previously existent academic resources, a phenomenon could be concluded as follow: generally, women interest in rapport-talk while men interest in report-talk. Focusing on rapport-talk, my hypothesis is that women’s interest toward rapport-talk is greater than men’s interest toward rapport-talk. 40 participants were randomly selected locally in Tri-city. 20 of them were female, and 20 of them were male. Each of them did a survey which contained 4 statements employed with 7 point-response format anchored by strongly disagree and strongly agree. Through collecting and analyzing the data, the result proved the hypothesis, namely, there is gender difference in attitude toward rapport-talk. The limitations and implications were also discussed in this paper.
Keyword: rapport-talk, gender difference, communication style.
The Study of Gender Difference in Attitude toward Rapport-talk Gender difference in communication has been an issue discussed fervently for several years. In recent researches about communication on the basis of gender difference, there are plenty of discuss of conversational styles. Tannen (1990) who believes that men and women have different conversational styles, first proposes the terms rapport-talk and report-talk. Tannen (1990) explains these two terms as follow:
For most women, the language of conversation is primarily a language of rapport: a way of establishing connections and negotiating relationships. Emphasis is placed on displaying similarities and matching experiences. For most men, talk is primarily a means to preserve independence and negotiate and maintain status in a hierarchical social order. (p.77)
To compare men and women’s different conversational styles, Barletta (2010) states as follow: “When men
Yuan Long
East Tennessee State University
Abstract
In this paper, the gender difference in attitude toward rapport-talk was discussed. According to previously existent academic resources, a phenomenon could be concluded as follow: generally, women interest in rapport-talk while men interest in report-talk. Focusing on rapport-talk, my hypothesis is that women’s interest toward rapport-talk is greater than men’s interest toward rapport-talk. 40 participants were randomly selected locally in Tri-city. 20 of them were female, and 20 of them were male. Each of them did a survey which contained 4 statements employed with 7 point-response format anchored by strongly disagree and strongly agree. Through collecting and analyzing the data, the result proved the hypothesis, namely, there is gender difference in attitude toward rapport-talk. The limitations and implications were also discussed in this paper.
Keyword: rapport-talk, gender difference, communication style.
The Study of Gender Difference in Attitude toward Rapport-talk Gender difference in communication has been an issue discussed fervently for several years. In recent researches about communication on the basis of gender difference, there are plenty of discuss of conversational styles. Tannen (1990) who believes that men and women have different conversational styles, first proposes the terms rapport-talk and report-talk. Tannen (1990) explains these two terms as follow:
For most women, the language of conversation is primarily a language of rapport: a way of establishing connections and negotiating relationships. Emphasis is placed on displaying similarities and matching experiences. For most men, talk is primarily a means to preserve independence and negotiate and maintain status in a hierarchical social order. (p.77)
To compare men and women’s different conversational styles, Barletta (2010) states as follow: “When men
References: Tannen, D. (1990). You just don’t understand: Women and men in conversation. New York: William Morrow. Clark, N. (Interviewer) & Barletta, M. (Interviewee). (2010). Differences Between Men and Women: An Interview with Martha Barletta [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from Womens Media Web site: http://www.womensmedia.com/work/207-differences-between-men-and-women-an-interview-with-martha-barletta.html Howden, J. C. (1994). Competitive and Collaborative Communicative Style: American Men and Women, American Men and Japanese Men. Retrieved From http://www.trinity.edu/org/ics/ICS%20Issues/04%20ICS%20IV%201/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20p%2049%20Howden.pdf Mechelen, R. V. (1992). Communication. What Every Man Should Know About Feminist Issues. Retrieved from http://www.backlash.com/book/comm.html