英汉语言中的性别差异研究

英汉语言中的性别差异研究

作者：眭春迎

来源：《价值工程》2010年第33期

摘要：性别差异研究是一个非常普遍的研究课题，许多领域都予以重视。了解一些有关性别差异研究的知识对于促进男性和女性的和谐相处具有重大意义。本文就此从词汇、句法、言语交际、会话含义等方面谈论了语言中体现的性别差异，并从词形和词义来两方面来阐述了由此而导致的性别歧视。由此看出，男女在语言使用上反映出的性别差异体现了男女在社会地位上的不平等。

Abstract: The study on gender difference is a very common issue that is popular with many study fields. It is significant to know something about this for the communication between male and female. This paper discusses the representation of gender-related language and the sexism which is caused by gender difference. In the first part，the author mainly talks about the representation of gender differences in language，which is showed in vocabulary，syntax structure，linguistic communication，meaning of conversation，etc. The second part is mainly about the sexism in language and a little analysis about it. Finally，a conclusion was drawn that the gender differences of male and female in language reflect the inequality of the two genders in social status. 关键词：性别；语言；性别差异；性别歧视

Key words: gender；language；gender difference；sexism

中图分类号：H31 文献标识码：A文章编号：1006-4311（2010）33-0213-01

0Introduction

The relationship between gender and language is a problem which is studied by many experts in different studying fields.And it is concluded that men and women speak in different languages.The task that faces men and women is to learn to know and accept their differences，to avoid taking their differences as personal attempts to frustrate each other.And the first thing they should do is to learn the language of the other sex in order to get along well with each other.It is very necessary to know this gender difference which can help us master language more proficiently and to treat sexism which caused by gender difference objectively.

1The Representation of Gender Difference in Language

1.1 Gender difference in vocabularyIt is proved that female often like using some exaggerative adjective words in their speech，such as，\"cute\"，\"divine\

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exaggeration,and degree adverbs are their favourite words to strengthen mood in the process of communication,such as\"pretty\，\"quite\"，\"so\"，\"such\"，etc.

1.2 Gender difference in syntax structureGenerally speaking，male like to show their ideas on something directly，so they often use indicative sentences and imperative sentences to express their requests. Differently，female intended to use yes/no question or tag question.It proved that male and female are dominated in language choosing by a kind of invisible power which makes them be different category. And as members in society，they have no other choices but just obey. 1.3 Gender difference in linguistic communicationFirst，topic is the focus and content of communication.After investigations to many different people，linguists find that female's topic in conversation is often about personal life，such as family，health，children，self-feeling，foods，housework,and just experiences and problems.1 Men on the other hand，rarely talk about their personal relationships and feelings but \"things\".This means they tend to talk about politics，economy，religion，sports，etc.

Second，people believe commonly that female is more talkative than male,which is considered as a kind of usual stereotype.But do women talk more than men? It depends on the context.In private interactions women tend to speak quite a lot，especially to other women.While in public settings，especially in the conversation between male and female men are more talkative than women. 1.4 Causes of gender differenceThere are two main attempts to explain the gender differences in communication: heredity and environment.Firstly，parts of the language differences are due to

genetic makeup.Men rely easily and more heavily on their left brain to solve one problem one step at a time. Women，on the other hand，have more efficient access to both sides of their brain and therefore greater use of their right brain.

Secondly，Language differences are also due in part to social experiences.Generally speaking，in our society boys and men are seen as aggressive，independent and objective.Girls and women are seen as submissive，dependent and subjective.Gender difference of this kind makes men play a dominant and powerful role in society. 2Sexism in language

2.1 sexism in word formsThe contempt of language to female can easily be found according to the order of words.Generally speaking，the culturally dominant part will be put in the front，for example,father and son，great and small，here and there，etc.But when male and female appear at the same time we usually obey the rule that makes male first，for example，father and mother，men and women，boys and girls.There is just one exception that is \"ladies and gentlemen\" which is influenced by the custom of western to show the politeness to female.

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2.2 How to eliminate the sexism in languageIt is the author's position that men and women should be equal but different. Female is just a kind of spicy which is very different from male.It is hoped that the results of sex differences are the diversity and plenty of categories but not the superiority or inferiority,and male and female should be treated equally.With the development of history，language is changing and reflecting people's views of value and society continuously. Feminists in 1970s play an important role in improving the female's status both in language and

society. The differences between male and female are reducing continuously. And the real elimination of sexism in language depends on the real equality of male and female in social reality. The reform of language depends on the reform of society. 注释：

①张若兰.英语中的语言与性别差异探讨[J].广州大学学报，2003（5）：26. ②姚剑平.英语中的性别歧视[J].厦门教育学院学报，2005（4）：66. 参考文献：

[1]Destefano，J. Women's Language [J].Views on Language，1975. [2]Lakeoff，R. Language and women' place[J].Language in Society，1973. [3]陈闻.性别文学研究与两性和谐[J].中国教育报，2006. [4]韦敏.谈英语语言与性别歧视[J].文教资料，2005（17）. [5]许力生.话语风格上的性别差异研究[J].外国语，1997（1）.