Final answer:
Men's 'report talk' imparts knowledge and is characterized by conveying information authoritatively to affirm status within a social hierarchy, as opposed to women's 'rapport talk' that focuses on building social connections. Research challenges traditional ideas by showcasing the minimal differences between male and female speech, suggesting that gendered communication styles are culturally learned.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Deborah Tannen's research, men tend to use more "report talk," which imparts knowledge. Report talk is characterized by communication that is intended to convey information authoritatively and affirm one's status in a social hierarchy. This contrasts with "rapport talk," which is more typical of women's conversational style aimed at establishing social connections and building relationships.
These gendered speech patterns have been widely recognized in American media and are often attributed to differences in specific parts of male and female brains, but ethnographic research shows that linguistic patterns are culturally relative. For instance, women in Madagascar and New Guinea are expected to use a confrontational style, contrary to American stereotypes. Moreover, linguistic research from the 1970s, such as Robin Lakoff's analysis, discusses the socialization of distinctive speech patterns that empower men and subordinate women.
Recent challenges to these established notions, like Janet Hyde's meta-analysis, reveal that there is minimal difference between how men and women use language, suggesting that any observed differences are not biologically predetermined but culturally learned. This has led to a broader understanding that while professional communication requires clarity and precision, gendered communication styles are largely influenced by socio-cultural factors.