The 3 Ds

The 3 Ds

I think that the deficit approach has some truth, however i do not fully agree with Lakoff's theories. I think that there is a lot of truth in the characterists Lakoff suggests fit with women. For example, it appears to be true that women are more likely to use hedges or fillers. However, i do not fully agree that this is because womens linguistic techniques are deficient of men. I agree that women tend to care more what people think of them and therefor like to be seen in a more poilite way.
   I also think that there are parts of the dominance approach that are true. I think that men do tend to interupt more than women do, and are generally more abrupt with their language. However, i don't think this is always because they feel what they have to say is more important. Tannen says that sometimes men will interupt women to help support them in what they are saying, i personally think that in some situations this can be true.
   I think that the difference theory has the most truth as i don't feel you can generalise a whole gender. I think that women and men do have different trates and characteristics in their language however, i don't think that either is dominant or deficient. I think culture and socialisation do play a big part in how people speak and appraoch conversation.