Interactional Sociolinguistics

Activities

Week 12

In-class Activity

1. Discuss the following questions in small groups.

a. Do you think men and women have different ways of talking. What kinds of differences have you observed in the areas of conversational mechanics, conversational styles, framing practices and face strategies.

b. What are some stereotypes people have about men and women (eg. women can't make up their minds, men don't like to ask other people for directions, etc). How much do you think these stereotypes are the result of different language socialization?

c. Some linguists have criticized Tannen and others who have done work in gender and language. Scan though this article by Cameron and find out the ways some other linguists account for supposed differences between men's and women's language.

Fieldwork (include this in your field journal)

1. Observe three dyads (two people) interacting in a public place (one dayd with two females, one with two males and one with a male and a female). Get close enough so that you can see their faces. Record their non-verbal behavior using the chart below.

(make three copies of this chart)

2. Tape record a short conversation between a male and a female (make sure you get their consent!). Listen to it and fill in the chart.

 Reflection (include this in your field journal)

Write a paragraph reflecting on and analyzing what you observed above. How does it fit in with the observations of other researchers which we have discussed in class?