Gender Voices

by Graddol, David; Swann, Will

• ISBN13: 9780631137344
• ISBN10: 0631137343
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1991-01-08
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Does the language we speak create and sustain a sexist culture? This controversial and exciting proposal has fascinated feminists, psychologists and linguists alike for well over a decade. The authors of Gender Voices explore in a clear and comprehensive manner the idea that language shapes individual lives-that through our speech we all help recreate gender divisions in society. Their introductory chapter establishes the relationship between language and social structure. Chapter 2 explores the human voice and traditional notions of 'femininity', 'masculinity' and sexuality. Subsequent chapters analyze differences between women and men in pronunciation and choice of words; discourse patterns and power relationships; the sexist structure of language; and language consciousness. The possibilities for social and linguistic change are examined in the final chapters.

Author Biography

David Graddol is a British linguist who has worked in applied linguistics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and history of linguistics. He is perhaps best known for his work regarding how English as a world language may develop. Will Swann is the author of Gender Voices, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	1	(11)
The Study of Language and Gender	2	(1)
The Nature of Language	3	(4)
Language is Personal	4	(1)
Language is Social	5	(1)
The Saussurean Model	5	(1)
The Semiotic Approach	6	(1)
The Nature of Gender and the Gendered Nature of Society	7	(1)
The Relation Between Language and Gender	8	(4)
Language Reflects Gender Divisions	9	(1)
Language Creates Gender Divisions	10	(1)
There is an Interplay Between Language and Social Structure	10	(2)
The Voice of Authority	12	(29)
Introduction	13	(1)
The Physical Basis of the Voice	14	(4)
The Evidence for Social Learning of the Voice	18	(9)
Cross-cultural Evidence	23	(2)
Pre-adolescent Children	25	(2)
The Social Meaning of Men's and Women's Voices	27	(12)
Sociobiological Explanations	27	(4)
Social Psychological Explanations	31	(4)
Socioplitical Explanations	35	(4)
Conclusion	39	(2)
Accents of Femininity? Gender Differences in Language Use	41	(28)
Introduction	41	(1)
Sex-exclusive Differences and Differences of Degree	42	(4)
Social Stratification Studies	46	(12)
Some Initial Interpretations	50	(1)
Criticisms of Social Stratification Studies	51	(7)
Alternative Accounts of Female and Male Speech	58	(9)
Social Psychological Explanations	58	(1)
Social Networks and Patterns of Interaction	59	(6)
Gender Signals	65	(2)
Conclusion	67	(2)
Conversation: The Sexual Division of Labour	69	(26)
Introduction	69	(1)
Speaking and Silence	70	(4)
Talking in Class - An Illustration	71	(2)
Aiding and Abetting: Gender and Other Factors	73	(1)
Conversation Management	74	(14)
The Supporting Role	75	(2)
Interruptions - Everyday Insults	77	(3)
Rings and Slingshots: The Use of Directives	80	(3)
The Language of Uncertainty	83	(5)
Women's Language? Some Qualifications	88	(1)
Women's Language: Explanations	89	(5)
Gender Subcultures	89	(2)
Gender and Power	91	(1)
Gender and Politeness	92	(2)
Conclusion	94	(1)
Is Language Sexist?	95	(40)
Introduction	95	(4)
The Disappearing Woman and the Ascent of Man	99	(12)
The Feminine as a Marked Category	99	(11)
Lexical Gaps	110	(1)
Woman Scorned	111	(8)
Semantic Derogation and the Linguistic Disparagement of Women	112	(2)
Women, Ladies and Girls	114	(4)
How to Describe a Woman	118	(1)
Sexism Abroad	119	(10)
Sexism in Europe: the `Natural' v. `Grammatical' Gender Distinction	120	(4)
Words for Women and Men - Examples from the Lebanon and Japan	124	(2)
Neutral Languages?	126	(3)
Sexism: Some Qualifications	129	(5)
The Notion of Bias	129	(1)
Intentionality	130	(1)
Language System v. Language Use	131	(1)
World Knowledge and Knowledge of Language	132	(1)
Man-made Language	132	(2)
Language and Thought	134	(1)
Conclusion	134	(1)
Language, Communication and Consciousness	135	(39)
Introduction	135	(1)
Language Reflects Social Divisions: A Model of Structure and Agency	136	(10)
The Role of Individual Speakers	138	(1)
Constraints Arising from Social Structures	139	(2)
The Role of Ideology and Institutions	141	(4)
The Structure and Agency Model and Implications for Change	145	(1)
Language Creates Social Divisions: Models of Linguistic Determinism	146	(19)
The Whorfian Hypothesis	147	(9)
The Semiotic Approach	156	(1)
The Poststructuralist Model	157	(7)
Possibilities for Change	164	(1)
The Dialectical Position: A Linguistic Model of Discourse	165	(7)
Propositional Structure	165	(2)
Discourse and Social Reality	167	(5)
Conclusion	172	(2)
Linguistic Intervention	174	(23)
Introduction	175	(1)
Intervention and Change: Some Case Studies	175	(14)
Computer Conferencing at the Open University	175	(3)
Equal Opportunities in Training: Three Examples from Industry	178	(6)
Equality in the Classroom	184	(3)
Equality Guidelines for Course Materials	187	(2)
Language and Social Change	189	(1)
Strategies for Intervention	190	(3)
Is It Worth Promoting Linguistic Change?	193	(2)
Conclusion	195	(2)
References	197	(12)
Index	209