Define language and discuss the relationship between language and
gender.
Language, a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by
means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in
its culture, express themselves. The functions of language include communication,
the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.
Every physiologically and mentally typical person acquires in childhood the ability
to make use, as both sender and receiver, of a system of communication that
comprises a circumscribed set of symbols (e.g., sounds, gestures, or written or typed
characters). In spoken languages, this symbol set consists of noises resulting from
movements of certain organs within the throat and mouth. In signed languages,
these symbols may be hand or body movements, gestures, or facial expressions. By
means of these symbols, people are able to impart information, to express feelings
and emotions, to influence the activities of others, and to comport themselves with
varying degrees of friendliness or hostility toward persons who make use of
substantially the same set of symbols.
Different systems of communication constitute different languages; the degree of
difference needed to establish a different language cannot be stated exactly. No two
people speak exactly alike; hence, one is able to recognize the voices of friends over
the telephone and to keep distinct a number of unseen speakers in a radio broadcast.
Yet, clearly, no one would say that they speak different languages. Generally,
systems of communication are recognized as different languages if they cannot be
understood without specific learning by both parties, though the precise limits of
mutual intelligibility are hard to draw and belong on a scale rather than on either
side of a definite dividing line. Substantially different systems of communication
that may impede but do not prevent mutual comprehension are called dialects of a
language.
Language and Gender
There is a close connection between the structures, vocabularies and the ways of
using language and the social roles of men and women who speak the language.
Certainly, Women’s speech differs from men’s speech; and women and men use
language differently due to the styles, registers, and the way of using language,
interaction, thought, culture, and linguistic attitudes gender, politeness and
stereotypes. In fact, there is a number of close relationships between Gender and
language.
Another word, men’s way of using language and women’s way of using language is
different. It is because of structure of the language, norm of the society or people of
the society who use the language. Moreover, gender (male-female) is socially
constructed. Because of the social institution or taboo, we find variations/differences
between men and women. In addition to, men’s style of speaking and women style
of speaking are deeply rooted in power structure.
There are some reasons of gender differences in language use. Three claims can be
offered on this: First, that men and women are biologically different and that this
difference has serious consequences for gender differences in language use. Women
are predisposed psychologically to be involved with one another and to be mutually
supportive and non-competitive. Men are innately predisposed to independence and
power rather than to solidarity. Second, social organizations are built up on
hierarchical set of power relationships. Men have the ascendency in such a system,
which women usually do not. Language behaviour reflects the social dominance of
men. They try to take control, to specify topics, to interrupt, and so on. They do it
with each other and they do it with women. Women feeling powerless, let them get
away with it. Third, men and women are social beings who have learned to act in
certain ways. Language behaviour is largely learned behaviour. Men learn to be men
and women learn to be women.
Most of the studies show that the differences between men and women in ways of
interacting may be the result of different socialization and acculturation patterns and
various gender assigned activities.
It would be a stereotype to call women’s style as ‘cooperative’ and men’s style
‘competitive’. Most of the evidences suggest that men and women differ in the kinds
of language they use because of their distinct roles in society. The more distinct the
roles will be, the greater the differences. In societies that are less rigidly stratified
and in which men and women’s roles are less clearly differentiated, the reflection
can be found in language also. Changes in society also reflect change in language .
There is a number of close relationships between Gender and language. Another
word, men’s way of using language and women’s way of using language is
different. It is because of structure of the language, norm of the society or people of
the society who use the language. Moreover, gender (male-female) is socially
constructed. Because of the social institution or taboo, we find variations/differences
between men and women. In addition to, men’s style of speaking and women style
of speaking are deeply rooted in power structure. In addition, the personality of the
individual and the vitality of the group are also involved in the explanation of
variability in language use. Therefore, there is a close connection between the
structures, vocabularies and the ways of using language and the social roles of men
and women who speak the language.
