Final answer:
Deborah Tannen describes American men and women as belonging to different communicative subcultures, where men speak to assert status and women to build social connections. However, researchers like Janet Hyde challenge the extent of these differences, arguing that they are more culturally than biologically driven. Cross-cultural studies show significant variations, debunking the notion of a universal gender language difference.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between listening and gender according to linguistic scholar Deborah Tannen reflects the idea of different communicative subcultures for American men and women. Tannen suggests that when men and women communicate, it is as if they are speaking across cultural divides, with men typically using speech to assert status and women using it to forge connections. However, this view is challenged by researchers like Janet Hyde and linguistic anthropologists who find that any differences in the ways men and women talk are cultural rather than biological, and those patterns of speech are not consistent across all cultures.
Cultural vs. Biological Differences
Deborah Tannen's research indicates that gender differences in communication are culturally driven. Men's speech is often aimed at asserting dominance, while women's is focused on building relationships. These attribute-based motivations for communication are seen within American society.
Challenges to the Biological Explanation
Janet Hyde's meta-analysis and the findings from various cultures demonstrate that speech patterns are not strictly divided along gender lines and can vary significantly across different societies. Linguist Robin Lakoff previously highlighted how women's language can be seen as disempowering, while newer studies show only slight variations between children of different genders.
Cultural Impact on Language Perception
Lera Boroditsky's research showcases how language shapes perception, including gender perception, through the assignment of genders to nouns in different languages. This illustrates that language and culture significantly affect how individuals perceive and describe the world.