English Language Theorists

Women use:

*Hedges + fillers

*Tag questions

*Apologetic requests

*Indirect requests

*Speak less

*Use fewer expletives

*More intensifiers.

She argued that these features of speech make women seem more inferior, weak and needy and prevents women from being taken seriously.

Disputed Lakoff, said that it was males and females of low social status who used these linguistic features.

They found that 96% of interruptions were made by men, suggesting male dominance in conversation.

Differences not similarities.

Men: More concerned with status, interrupt more, gives more direct orders, don't mind conflict, more intensifiers in getting facts and solving problems.

Females: More interested in for bonds, tend to talk less and agree more, more polite indirect orders, to avoid conflict, aim to show understanding by compromising and offering support rather than solutions.