Question 1

A subjective standard ascribing validity to an idea when it resonates with one's personal experience is called ________.

Accepted Answer

aha factor

Question 2

What is Tannen's training/discipline? How does that impact her theory?

Accepted Answer

Deborah Tannen is a prominent American academic and professor of linguistics at Georgetown University. Her training and discipline are in the field of linguistics, with a focus on sociolinguistics and discourse analysis. Linguistics is the scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics. Sociolinguistics, a subfield of linguistics, examines how language varies and changes in social groups, and discourse analysis looks at how language is used in communication.

Tannen's training in linguistics, particularly in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis, has significantly impacted her theoretical contributions. She is best known for her research on the differences in communication styles between men and women, which she has discussed extensively in her books and academic papers. Her most famous work, "You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation," argues that men and women have different conversational styles that are rooted in the socialization processes of childhood and that these differences often lead to misunderstandings in communication.

Tannen's linguistic background has enabled her to approach the study of gender and communication with a focus on the actual use of language in various contexts. She analyzes the ways in which people speak and the underlying social dynamics that influence communication patterns. Her training allows her to observe and describe the subtle nuances in conversation, such as indirectness, pacing, storytelling styles, and the use of silence, which might contribute to different interpretations and expectations in communication between genders.

In summary, Deborah Tannen's training in linguistics, and specifically in sociolinguistics and discourse analysis, has been fundamental in shaping her theory on gendered communication. Her expertise in the structure and use of language has provided her with the tools to explore and explain how and why men and women often communicate differently, and how these differences can affect interpersonal relationships.

Question 3

Women listening to a story or explanation tend to:

Accepted Answer

A)   avoid eye contact so as not to embarrass the speaker.
B)   offer head nods.
C)   avoid putting themselves in a submissive stance.
D)   avoid eye contact and offer head nods. B

Question 4

What might Mead and his followers have to say to Tannen?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What might Mead and his followers have...

Question 5

If the two genderlects are truly equal, would Tannen favor any form of accommodation or divergence in keeping with Giles' assumptions about the need for inclusion or distinctiveness?

Accepted Answer

The answer of If the two genderlects are truly equal,...

Question 6

Women tell more stories and jokes than men do.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

"Tag questions" soften the sting of potential disagreements that are likely to drive people apart.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Tannen believes that male-female conversation is inherently cross-cultural communication.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Does knowledge of Tannen's theory make us better or worse communicators? Explain briefly.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does knowledge of Tannen's theory make us...

Question 10

When a woman who is listening starts to speak before the other person is finished, she usually does so to add a word of agreement, to show support, or to finish a sentence with what she thinks the speaker will say. Deborah Tannen labels this ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When a woman who is listening starts...

Question 11

From Deborah Tannen's perspective, the desire for connection is a female trait. If this is the case, what other theories might be characteristically more feminine and what theories, where status is important, might be classified as masculine?

Accepted Answer

The answer of From Deborah Tannen's perspective, the desire for...

Question 12

Tannen claims that conversations between men and women reflect men's conscious efforts to dominate women.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

When studying the interactions between moms and kids during a free-play session, Louise Cherry Wilkinson and her colleague Michael Lewis found that mothers of boys, unlike mothers of girls, ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   talked more
B)   used longer sentences
C)   were more likely to use directives
D)   were more likely to acknowledge their children's comments

Question 14

Based on Fisher's standards, does Tannen tell a good story regarding the communicative experiences of men and women?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Based on Fisher's standards, does Tannen tell...

Question 15

Tannen does not believe that there is a male plot to dominate women. Do you agree or disagree with her?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Tannen does not believe that there is...

Question 16

According to Tannen, women who verbally share problems with men are looking for the gift of understanding and they do not want advice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

According to Julia Wood, girls learn to involve others in conversations while boys learn to use communication to assert their own ideas and draw attention to themselves.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

How might Tannen critique Ting-Toomey's face-negotiation theory?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might Tannen critique Ting-Toomey's face-negotiation theory?...

Question 19

Compare and contrast the way men talk with the way women talk. Which is better? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the way men talk...

Question 20

Women value report talk, whereas men value rapport talk.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 31: Genderlect Styles

A subjective standard ascribing validity to an idea when it resonates with one's personal experience is called ________.

What is Tannen's training/discipline? How does that impact her theory?

Women listening to a story or explanation tend to:

What might Mead and his followers have to say to Tannen?

If the two genderlects are truly equal, would Tannen favor any form of accommodation or divergence in keeping with Giles' assumptions about the need for inclusion or distinctiveness?

Women tell more stories and jokes than men do.

"Tag questions" soften the sting of potential disagreements that are likely to drive people apart.

Tannen believes that male-female conversation is inherently cross-cultural communication.

Does knowledge of Tannen's theory make us better or worse communicators? Explain briefly.

When a woman who is listening starts to speak before the other person is finished, she usually does so to add a word of agreement, to show support, or to finish a sentence with what she thinks the speaker will say. Deborah Tannen labels this ________.

From Deborah Tannen's perspective, the desire for connection is a female trait. If this is the case, what other theories might be characteristically more feminine and what theories, where status is important, might be classified as masculine?

Tannen claims that conversations between men and women reflect men's conscious efforts to dominate women.

When studying the interactions between moms and kids during a free-play session, Louise Cherry Wilkinson and her colleague Michael Lewis found that mothers of boys, unlike mothers of girls, ________.

Based on Fisher's standards, does Tannen tell a good story regarding the communicative experiences of men and women?

Tannen does not believe that there is a male plot to dominate women. Do you agree or disagree with her?

According to Tannen, women who verbally share problems with men are looking for the gift of understanding and they do not want advice.

According to Julia Wood, girls learn to involve others in conversations while boys learn to use communication to assert their own ideas and draw attention to themselves.

How might Tannen critique Ting-Toomey's face-negotiation theory?

Compare and contrast the way men talk with the way women talk. Which is better? Why?

Women value report talk, whereas men value rapport talk.