CTAC 224 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Deborah Tannen, Tag Question
Trudgill
Studied how male and female speakers pronounced the suffix 'ing' as in 'walking' in Norwich. More men
dropped their 'g's
Cheshire
Analysed the talk of teenagers in Reading. Boys used non standard form in comparison to girls
Matthew Hassan
Supported Cheshires study and did it the same amongst siblings and found that sisters used more
standard pronunciations in comparison to brothers
Robin Lackoff
Language and women's place (1975) is viewed as characteristics of a deficit approach to the study of
language and gender
Janet Holmes (1992)
Suggests that tag questions are multi functional such as: referential tags questions; signals factual
uncertainty. Affective(facilitative) tag questions; express solidarity. Affective(softening) tag questions;
weakens the tone of a command or criticism
Deborah Tannen 80's&90's
Difference model- emphasising separate, unique linguistic characteristics for men and women,
reinforced since childhood. Women tend to build a rapport when talking and want to be friendly, where
as men just want the facts as a report form
Thorn and Henley (1975)
Difference and dominance: offer ideas about such areas such as topic control which is when men take
control over what to talk about and interruption. Interruptions when they try and take control over the
convo. Lastly verbosity is talking a lot
Pamela Fishman (1977)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Studied how male and female speakers pronounced the suffix "ing" as in "walking" in norwich. Boys used non standard form in comparison to girls. Supported cheshires study and did it the same amongst siblings and found that sisters used more standard pronunciations in comparison to brothers. Language and women"s place (1975) is viewed as characteristics of a deficit approach to the study of language and gender. Suggests that tag questions are multi functional such as: referential tags questions; signals factual uncertainty. Affective(softening) tag questions; weakens the tone of a command or criticism. Difference model- emphasising separate, unique linguistic characteristics for men and women, reinforced since childhood. Women tend to build a rapport when talking and want to be friendly, where as men just want the facts as a report form. Difference and dominance: offer ideas about such areas such as topic control which is when men take control over what to talk about and interruption.
