Women's Conversational Culture: Rupturing Patriarchal Discourse. Rolig-Papir 36.

Patterns in the speech behavior of women were examined in a number of mixed-sex and single-sex television interviews and discussions, focusing on response to male dominance. Common properties of women's speech style are attributed to their need to respond to the requirements of conversation with men and ensure conversational survival, and are seen as conversational competencies. These properties, which include turn-taking and joining responses, deferential behavior, personal or semantic reference, protecting the opponent from loss of face, and making the opponent's response or agreement easier, are discussed as they occurred in mixed-sex and single-sex conversations and in conversations between individuals of different status, age, or political position. It is proposed that analysis of the patterns occurring in mixed-sex conversations can serve to make speakers aware of the male domination of discourse, and analysis of women's conversations can make women more aware of their competence, both processes rupturing the patriarchal quality of discourse. (MSE)