Lakoff 1970s

• findings from Language and Woman’s Place, 1975

  Show they are listening by using minimal responses mm, yeah

  speak more quietly.

  Use super-polite forms: “Would you mind...”,“I'd appreciate it if...”, don't mind”.

  Apologise more: (“I'm sorry, but I think that...”)Use tag questions: “You're going to dinner, aren't you? ”Use empty adjectives: divine, lovely, adorable.

  Avoid making threats, using aggressive language and insults
• criticism of her approach

  didn’t do research – ideas are based on observations.Generalised (stereotyped!) both genders.
• who explored Lakoffs idea

  Janet Holmes
• what did Janet Holmes study

  Lakoff idea about tag questions
• what 3 things did Janet Holmes explore

  Referential tag questions – signal factual uncertainty – we turn here, don’t we?

  Affective (facilitative) tag questions – express solidarity or intimacy  -- we love that show, don’t we?

  Affective (softening) tag questions – weakening a command or criticism – Take out the rubbish, won’t you?
• what did Janet Holmes find

  Referential: Women 35% (18) Men 61 (24).

  Facilitative: Women 59% (30)    Men 25% (10).

  Softening:   Women 6% (3)    Men 13% (5).

  Total:           Women  51             Men 39
• what did Lakoff explore

  she tackled how language encodes social norms especially around gender