Difference theory

In sociolinguistics, difference theory is a theory in the area of language and gender which examines the effect that gender has on language use. A main proponent of the theory is sociolinguist Professor Deborah Tannen, whose work, especially her 1990 book You Just Don't Understand, is often cited in the discussion of the theory and is considered to be the main reason for its popularisation.

Theory

The difference theory has roots in the studies of John Gumperz, who examined the differences in cross-cultural communication. While difference theory deals with cross-gender communication, the male and female genders are often presented as being two separate cultures, hence the relevance of Gumperz’s studies. In her development on the difference theory Deborah Tannen in particular drew on the work of Daniel Maltz and Ruth Borker and their 1982 paper ‘a cultural approach to male-female miscommunication’, which itself drew on the work of Gumperz. Mary Talbot makes reference to the term "gender-specific culture" in her critique of the difference theory. This idea of gender-specific culture is embodied by the 1992 publication Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. The difference theory is often compared with dominance theory and deficit theory, and together with dynamic theory they make up four of the theories most widely referred to and compared in the study of language and gender.

The reason for the popularity of Tannen’s book You Just Don't Understand, and the resultant popularisation of difference theory, is generally attributed to the style of Tannen’s work, in which she adopts a neutral position on difference in genderlect, making no value-judgements about use of language by either gender. Talbot comments that this means the book provides explanation for domestic disputes without “pointing the finger” at anyone.

The difference theory as postulated by Tannen is generally summarised into six or seven different categories, each of which pairs a contrasting use of language by males compared to a use of language by females. They are typically given as follows, with each placing the male characteristic first.

Status vs. support

Tannen states that, for men, the world is a competitive place in which conversation and speech are used to build status, whereas for women the world is a network of connections, and that they use language to seek and offer support. In demonstrating this, Tannen uses the example of her husband and herself, who at one point had jobs in different cities. She remarks that when people commented on this, she interpreted it as being offers of sympathy or support. Her husband, on the other hand, took such comments as being criticism and attempts to put him down. Tannen remarks that this displays the different approaches that women and men take in terms of status and support.

Advice vs. understanding

Women seek comfort and sympathy for their problems, whilst men will seek a solution to the problem.

Information vs. feelings

Tannen states that men's conversation is message-oriented, based upon communicating information. For women, conversation is much more important for building relationships and strengthening social links.

Orders vs. proposals

Men will use direct imperatives ("close the door", "switch on the light") when speaking to others. Women encourage the use of superpolite forms, however ("let's", "would you mind if ...?").

Conflict vs. compromise

A woman is more likely to prevent fights and conflict by refusing to oppose or assert herself, even if it will not get her what she wants from the situation. Men are much more prepared to argue their preferences at the risk of conflict.

Independence vs. intimacy

Difference theory asserts that in general men favour independence, while women are more likely to seek intimacy. Tannen demonstrates this with the example of a husband making a decision without consulting his wife. She theorises that he does so because he doesn't want to feel a loss of independence that would come from saying, "Let me consult this with my wife first." Women, on the other hand, like to demonstrate that they have to consult with their partner, as this is seen to be proof of the intimacy of the relationship. Tannen asserts that women, seeing the world as a network of connections and relationships, view intimacy as key to achieving consensus and avoiding the appearance of superiority, whereas men, who are more likely to view the world in terms of status, see independence as being key to establishing their status. Tannen also points out that both men and women seek independence and intimacy, but that men are more likely to be focused on the former, while women are more likely to focus on the latter.

References

• Tannen, Deborah (1990). You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. VIRAGO PRESS. ISBN 1853814717. 
• Talbot, Mary M. (1998). Language and Gender: An Introduction. Polity Press. ISBN 0-7456-1680-1. 
• Sunderland, Jane (2006). Language and Gender: An advanced resource book. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-31103-9. 

• Moore, Richard (2003). "Deborah Tannen and difference". teachit.co.uk. http://www.teachit.co.uk/armoore/lang/gender.htm#tannen. Retrieved 2012-01-25. 
• Coates, Jennifer (1986). Women, Men and Language: A Sociolinguistic Account of Gender Differences in Language. London: Longman. 
• Kelley, Rhonda H. (2012). "Communication between Men and Women in the Context of the Christian Community". The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. http://www.cbmw.org/Resources/Articles/Communication-between-men-and-women. Retrieved 2012-01-25.