1. Introduction to Gender Studies
Language and Gender

2. Women as a social group
members of the group live near each other in a recognised neighbourhood or they have recognised meeting places;
they have a recognisable and distinctive subculture;
members of the group acknowledge the existence of the group: belonging to the group is part of their identity (cf. Coates 7)

3. Theory: Language and Gender
Robin Lakoff: Language and Woman’s Place
Dale Spender: Man Made Language
Maria Black and Rosalind Coward: language: not inherently sexist

4. Pitch FEATURES MEN WOMEN CHILDREN RANGE 80–200 Hz 120–400 Hz EXTREME
TYPICAL RANGE USED
100–150 Hz
200–300 Hz
AVERAGE
120 Hz
225 Hz
265 Hz

5. Lexicology Women’s „ephemeral vocabulary” Innovation Androcentric rule
Speech – silence
Interest areas
“Gossip” vs discussion
Naming
“man”
Taboo language/swearing
Semantic derogation of women

6. Gendered pairs of words
Male
Female
courtier
courtesan
master
mistress
host
hostess
governor
governess
adventurer
adventuress
sir
madam
bachelor
spinster
lord
lady
king
queen
priest
priestess
poet
poetess
god
goddess

7. Syntax and discourse Set phrases Generic “he”
Hedges, tag questions, questions
Turn-taking

8. Turn-taking: same-sex conversations
1st speaker
2nd speaker
Total
overlaps 12 10 22
interruptions 3 4 7 15 14 29

9. Turn-taking: mixed-sex conversations
Male speaker
Female speaker
Total
overlaps 9
interruption 46 2 48 55 57

10. Thank you for your attention!