MAAL6034 Gender and language
COURSE TEACHER:
Dr. Sherman Lee
Email: sleehku@hku.hk
OVERVIEW
This course explores the relationship between gender and language from various perspectives and examines how gender both affects and is affected by language. It considers how language encodes and reflects gender categories and divisions, as well as how the language used in everyday discourse and interactions by women and men, and about women and men, shapes, constructs and reinforces gender roles and identities.
AIMS
This course aims to introduce to students major theoretical concepts and methodological approaches for studying the different ways in which gender and language are related and intersect. In addition to critically examining theories that have been proposed to account for gender-related differences in language use, the course covers topics such as: the role of gender as a sociolinguistic variable influencing speech and interactions, how gender is embedded and manifested in the language system, the role that language plays in shaping gender identities, and the ways in which language in various everyday discourse legitimises and contests the gender ideologies of a society.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the complex relationship between gender and language, and a familiarity with key theories, concepts and debates in the field of gender and language studies
- Identify and describe the linguistic features, patterns and practices that reflect and construct gender in authentic spoken, written and visual discourses
- Apply relevant analytical methods and theoretical frameworks to critically examine the connections between gender and language use in those authentic texts or interactions, and their implications
KEY REFERENCES
- Angouri, J., & Baxter, J. (Eds.). (2021). The Routledge handbook of language, gender, and sexuality.
- Cameron, D. (2008). The myth of Mars and Venus: Do men and women really speak different languages? Oxford University Press.
- Coates, J. (2013). Women, men and everyday talk. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Coates, J. (2015). Women, men and language: A sociolinguistic account of gender differences in language (3rd ed.).
- Coates, J., & Pilcher, P. (2011). Language and gender: A reader (2nd ed.).Wiley-Blackwell.
- Eckert, P., & McConnell-Ginet, S. (2013). Language and gender (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- Harrington, K., Litosseliti, L., Sauntson, H., & Sunderland, J. (2008). Gender and language research methodologies. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Ehrlich, S., Meyerhoff, M., & Holmes, J. (2014). The handbook of language, gender, and sexuality (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
- Kiesling, S.F. (2019). Language, gender, and sexuality: An introduction.
- Lakoff, R. T., & Bucholtz, M. (2004). Language and woman’s place: Text and commentaries (Rev. and expanded ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Litosseliti, L. (2006). Gender and language: Theory and practice. Hodder Arnold.
- Saunston, H. (2020). Researching language, gender and sexuality: A student guide. Taylor & Francis Group.
- Sunderland, J. (2006). Language and gender: An advanced resource book. Routledge.
- Talbot, M. (2019). Language and gender (3rd ed.). Polity Press.
SCHEDULE
| Session | Topic |
| 1 | Gender in language studies: concepts and approaches |
| 2 | Gender in the language system |
| 3 | Gender and talk / interaction / speech styles |
| 4 | Gender and language in media and advertising |
| 5 | Gender and language in education and children’s literature |
| 6 | Gender and institutional / workplace discourse |
ASSESSMENT
Write a paper of 2,500 words (+/- 10%) to critically examine the connections between gender and language use in authentic discourse, and their implications. Collect or select one or two extracts of written, spoken or visual data (e.g. from an interaction, media / advertising discourse, English learning materials, literature for children). Analyse how gender identity is constructed and/or represented through language / discourse in your chosen materials with reference to the concepts and approaches covered in the course. Further details of the assignment will be provided when the course begins.