SEX, SIGHS, AND CONVERSATION: WHY MEN AND WOMEN CAN’T COMMUNICATEDeborah Tannen

GROUP MEMBERS

Ayushman Tamrakar - Leader Raeesha Shrestha - Editor Nikesh Todi Ashika Sharma Rashik Khadka Sanjina Shakya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Writers Introduction Childhood Adulthood Ways of Talking Assumptions on Problems Gender Views Expressing Habits Main Idea

WRITER’S INTRODUCTION: DEBORAH TANNEN A University Professor

and Professor of linguistic

Has lectured worldwide in her field

Written numerous academic publication on linguistics and interpersonal communication.

Best known for her general audience books on interpersonal communication and public discourse.

CHILDHOODWomen Play in small groups or in pairs. Spend a lot of time talking with their best friends. Sharing of secrets among themselves make them

best friends. Use language as the relationship builder.

Men Play competitive games in larger groups. Don’t usually have best friends. High status=orders; low status=be pushed

around. Use language as independence preserver and

status builder.

Women Like to gossip a lot. No shame in asking for help.

Men Ignorance is humiliation. Like to maintain higher status than

others.

ADULTHOOD

WAYS OF TALKING

Women Talk about everything in detail. Ask others to explain the unknown in

detail. Topics of life’s daily events and

impressions means essence of intimacy.

Men Ignores details.

ASSUMPTIONS ON PROBLEMS

Women Make long descriptions of problems. Doesn’t want a solution right away. Feels frustrated if a solution cuts short

the discussion of the problem.

Men Search or suggest solutions quickly. Don’t talk about the problem much.

GENDER VIEWS

Women Feel offended when they don’t get

expected response. Seek mutual support and exploration.

Men Might not always share everything to

close people. Like to impress guests or friends by

talking about his achievements in life. Want to be one step ahead of everyone

else.

EXPRESSING HABITS

Women Talk more at home. Regard talks as constructing good

relationship with people.

Men Talk more at public. Regard talks as a means of building

status.

MAIN IDEA

Understanding gender differences in ways of talking is the first step toward changing.

Different views of different people may create misunderstanding.

Adjustments to improve relationship.