GenderWhat question would you like to ask these people?DO NOT CHOOSE THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDswiT87oo8

Let’s look at your answers… Can we identify any gender stereotyping

in the answers you have given? Let’s guess the gender of the people

asking the question? Can we link these ideas to any gender

theories?

Today we will Consider what will be

expected of you in the exam

Analyse a conversation and explore what it shows about Language and Gender in terms of contextualisation

Plan a response to an exam question.

Homework To write a 10 minute response using

your plans. We will check through it on Friday against the exam scheme.

Language and Gender and the Exam As you know … There are two sections to the exam: Section A: Text Varieties (Ms

Appleby) Section B: Language and Social

Contexts (me) Answer Question 1 from Section A and

either Question 2 (gender) or Question 3 (power) or Question 4 (technology) from Section B.

The Question Text C is a transcript of a conversation

between three speakers: Joan, Nina and Tom. As part of a research project they have been asked to discuss a picture of a house on the French coast.

Comment on the significance of gender in this interaction. You should refer in detail to the text and to relevant ideas from language study.

You may wish to consider some of the following:

• the language choices of the speakers;• the relationship between the speakers;• the effects of context.

In your groups of four divide the roles of Joan, Nina and Tom. The fourth person will act as an observer and record the interactions on their phones.

You have three minutes to re-create this conversation, using the rules of the transcript. Aim to read it 4 times in the three minutes.

Key: (.) indicates a brief pause. Numbers within brackets indicate length of pause

in seconds. Underlining indicates emphasis in speech. Words between vertical lines are spoken

simultaneously. Other contextual information is in italics in square

brackets.

What’s the context? The talk is obviously affected by context – it’s a

specific activity rather than spontaneous talk. This may affect language choices and behaviour of the interlocutors.

How might this exchange differ if it were in a workplace?

If it were a group of boys? A group of girls? Use your notes if necessary

Initial Observations

You have two minutes to record your personal observations about the person you were reading in the conversation

Building up your analysisNow find another person who has studied the same character as you. You each have one minute to share your findings and add more detail to your own initial observations.

Go back to your group.Now each person

should take it in turns to feedback on what they have observed about their character.

This will give you the opportunity to develop your own annotations

Linking to the theory Lakoff and the features of female language – how

might you be able to apply any of her findings to this data?

Does any of the data not conform to Lakoff’s findings?

Empty adjectives? Hedges Intensifiers (speaking in italics) Speak less frequently

Linking to conversational theory

Look back to the information sheet given last lesson, which of these findings might be relevant to your data?

10 minute planning task Comment on the significance of

gender in this interaction. You should refer in detail to the text and to relevant ideas from language study.

You may wish to consider some of the following:

• the language choices of the speakers;• the relationship between the speakers;• the effects of context.

Finally

What would you ask these people if you were being assessed by an English Language examiner?