question: gender and discourse referent patterns

[Mary Bucholtz]

Dear all,

This question is on behalf of a visiting scholar at UCSB (not a specialist 
in language and gender). Using data from narratives elicited after speakers 
watched a short film, he found that female speakers are more likely to 
elaborate on the properties of characters they mentioned, while male 
speakers
tend only to advance the story line. This difference is reflected in the 
number of words spoken
and distribution (argument positions) of newly introduced referents.

Does anyone know of work confirming or disconfirming these findings, or 
similar research along these lines? Please reply to me privately and I'll 
forward the responses to him.

Thanks a lot,

Mary



When I talked with Professor Wallace Chafe on this matter, he suggested to
me that I ask you whether there are relevant studies that support (or
contradict) the result of my project.

I was impressed at your website and quickly understood why Professor Chafe
mentioned you. Since I have not been following the studies of female-male
differences in language use, could you suggest what I should refer to?
I am sorry if I bother you and take your precious time.  But I would truly
appreciate your advice.

Sincerely,

Yoshi Kumagai



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Mary Bucholtz, Associate Professor
Department of Linguistics
3607 South Hall
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-3100
phone: (805) 893-5415
fax: (805) 893-7769
http://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/faculty/bucholtz/
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