Question

1.a. Lakoff (1990) observed that women’s communications are considered not only different from men’s but also typically inferior. Critically examine this assertion.

b. The conversation between men and women are products of two different cultures resulting in misunderstandings. With relevant examples, analyze this statement.

Answer 1

1. a. The following assertion by Lakoff (1990), "women's communications are considered not only different from men's but also typically inferior" means that the words used by women to communicate include more descriptive adjectives and are less profane than men, due to which they are shown as inferior to men. They have been taught from the beginning to use language in a way wherein their speech is deficient and conveying weakness, uncertainty, and unimportance as compared to the standard or neutral language spoken by men. This makes their status inferior in society as compared to men. Also, they are considered to make indirect request and are less expressive, further lowering their status as comapred to men and making them typically inferior.

1. b. The following statement, "The conversation between men and women are products of two different cultures resulting in misunderstandings" refers to the fact that both men are women come from different cultures in the aspect of communication wherein their socialisation is different, resulting in cross-cultural communication. Further, this leads to miscommunication between them as they are unable to understand the view point of each other and causes conflicts.