Robin Lakoff (1975)

Exert from textbook

The influence of Robin Lackoff's Language and Woman's Place on the study of language and gender is undeniable. In Twenty years after Language and Woman's Place, The original text's editor Mary Bucholtz offers a reminder that the work was, at the time of publication, 'met with widespread criticism'. In the introduction of the book, Lakoff admits: 'It is my impression, though I do not have precise statistical evidence'. This is evidenced in her use of language in the book, using prrases such as 'many men' and 'men tend to'. Despite this, Bulcholtz argues that 'it launched a far reaching program of research  on language and gender whose effects we still feel today'. What is very clear is that Lakoff's work is still often quoted today and its list of the main features of female speech remains an integral part of language and gender discussion:

1) Hedges: Phrases like 'sprt of', 'kind of','it seems like'.
2) Empty adjectives: 'divine','adorable', 'gorgeous'.
3) Super polite forms: 'would you mind', 'is it okay if...?'
4) Apologise more: 'im sorry but I think that'
6) Speak less frequently.
7) Tag questions: 'You dont mind eating this, do you?'
8) Hyper-correct grammar and pronounciation: use of prestige grammar and clear articulation.
9) Indirect requests: 'I'm so thirsty' - really asking for a drink
10) Speak in italics: Use of tone to emphasise certain words, e.g. 'so', 'very', 'quite'.

Lakoff's research can be seen as representative of the 'deficit approach', or 'deficit model' to language and gender. The deficit approach is attributed to Otto Jepersen who, in 1922, argued that male language features were the 'norm' and language of others (including women) were 'deficient'. Looking at the list of main female features, it is perhaps apparent why Lakoff sees the language of women to be weaker. Indirect requests and the use of apologetic forms do suggest womens language to be less powerful than that of males,