Final answer:
Linguistic differences between men and women are culturally constructed rather than biologically determined, with some research suggesting that men and women have different motivations when engaging in conversation. however, other research shows minimal differences in linguistic behavior between boys and girls.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing men and women's linguistic styles, research has shown that there are no inherent biological differences that lead to different linguistic patterns; instead, any differences are culturally constructed. In Robin Lakoff's work, Language and Woman's Place, she describes a pattern where women's speech is often uncertain and excessively polite, while other researchers have observed that men frequently interrupt women. Still, ethnographic studies, such as those in Madagascar and New Guinea, reverse these stereotypes, suggesting that speech patterns are not universal. Deborah Tannen's research suggests that men and women engage in conversation with different motivations - men to assert status, and women to build social connections.
However psychologist Janet Hyde's meta-analysis indicates minimal differences in linguistic behavior between boys and girls, implying that socialization into gender roles during adolescence may accentuate these differences.