Language Defines Gender

A detailed Summary of Language Defines Gender

How do men and women communicate clearly when most of their ways of communicating are so different? In today's society language plays a key role in defining gender by phraseology, vocabulary, and also their nonverbal vocabulary. Each one of these different types of ways of communicating is prominently different between men and women.

Webster's defines phraseology as "a choice and pattern of words." Many studies have been done on the differences between men and women's phraseology. It has been noted in many different studies that men tend to talk much more than women do. This was proven true in a study that Lynette Hirshman did in 1974 (Glass 33). It has also been proven that women tend to speak faster than men; this is due to the fact that women tend to be interrupted more often than men are, and also have the ability to speak more clearly, precisely, and more quickly than men can. In one study it was found that women spoke for an average of three minutes describing a painting, as opposed to the thirteen-minute average it took men to describe it. (Glass 33) Women tend to be more detailed when describing events, persons, places or things. Linguist Robin Lakoff states

Men and women also tend to have a very different nonverbal way of communicating, which can also make it very hard for one another to understand what the opposite sex is trying to say. Men's body language is much more reserved when talking to women. Men tend to not make as much eye contact; they generally stay farther away from women when talking to them. Men avoid other peoples body space while talking, they also tend to recline or sit back when talking, and they are much more fidgety while listening to someone else. These traits that men have give off the impression of disinterest or boredom. Women are completely the opposite, which gives others the feeling that the female listener is much more interested in what the speaker has to say. Women rarely interrupt someone while speaking, but as for men they interrupt the speaker quite frequently. Men rarely pick up on others nonverbal cues. Men give off false cues of their own or are not as consistent with the nonverbal cues they try to give off. (Glass 46) Men, even when interested tend to frown and squint while listening which gives off a feeling of disinterest, where as women smile and nod as if they are paying attention to every word that is being said to them. (Glass 49)

It is true men and women are quite different in their ways of communicating. Men are definitely much harder to understand in all of their styles of communication. From mumbling to short snappy answers and poor eye contact to constant interruptions, makes communicating with men much more difficult than anticipated by most. Women are by far better listeners and much more enjoyable to talk with. Women give off the impression they are interested in what is being said to them, maintain good ey

Some common words found in the essay are:
According Webster's, Language Woman's, Von Svenson, Lynette Hirshman, women tend, Robin Lakoff, Gender Essay, glass 53, glass 51, eye contact, words tend, tone voice, opposite sex, change tone, nonverbal cues, types communicating,

Approximate Word count = 1158
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science