The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why - Essay Example

The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why While individuals oftentimes link linguistic communication with forms of written or grammatical expression, the field of sociolinguistics extends this form of understanding to include even subtle elements in cultural exchange. Within this discipline two speakers from contiguous states can even be analyzed for divisions in cultural communication. Tannen (1995) examines such forms of cultural communication within business and social contexts. This essay examines various elements of Tannen’s text within the sociolinguistic context. One of the most prominent sociological considerations within Tannen’s text relates to gender communication. Tannen articulates a scenario wherein men and women interact at a corporate meeting, with the ideas generated by a woman named Cheryl not receiving equal credit as her male counterparts. The article argues that the primary reason for this distinction is based on learned forms of communication between male and females. In these regards, simply adding women to a team does not mean women’s points of views are addressed equally. There are a number of early developmental issues wherein women learn to downplay elements that emphasize their superiority over others, while men learn to assume leadership positions and emphasize their dominance. These communication differences emerge in the workplace where women may develop viable ideas and contributions, but feel inhibited to tout their own accomplishments; conversely, men will readily assume this role, and subsequently receive greater credit. One of the major considerations in these regards is the larger groups that men generally are socialized in as compared to women. Ultimately, it’s clear that early age development greatly contributes to later day gender communication differences. One of the important notions considered in terms of sociolinguistic communication is the nature of asking questions. While in some contexts its understood that asking questions demonstrates the viability of a specific learning or business environment, it’s argued that such processes can also have unintended consequences. Tannen (1995, p. 142) notes, “In a group, if only one person asks questions, he or she risks being seen as the only ignorant one…The person who asks questions may end up being lectured to and looking like a novice under a schoolmaster’s tutelage.” In these regards, question asking oftentimes places the individual in a one-down position. For Tannen (1995) the one-up and one-down notion is an important consideration within the sociolinguistic context. In referring to ‘one-down’ Tannen is indicating that one individual is placed in a position of weakness as related to the individual they are speaking. An example of this occurs as men are reluctant to ask for directions because it places them in a one-down position. One considers the root of these gender differences in terms of one-up and one-down forms of communication. Perhaps the most notable consideration is the extent that these differences are rooted in biological elements or are socially conditioned aspects of existence. Such considerations are most prominently evident in terms of employment, were women have long been understood to experience discrimination. While civil rights measures have aimed at leveling this playing field, one considers that such measures may be misguided, when the truth problem is found in the nature of disproportionate communication practices. Another important consideration occurs within the nature of apologies. Similar to taking credit for accomplishments, there is a significant division between the genders when implementing apologies. For women saying I’m sorry oftentimes becomes an element of communication that is used to ease the conversation and develop a connection with the individual. This is contrasted with the male implementation of an apology. With men, an apology is oftentimes considered to be a sign of weakness, so that they are less likely to apologize than women. Within this context of investigation, one also considers the nature of compliments. In this context women are recognized to be more forthcoming in their compliments than men; conversely, men seek to criticize each other as a means of placing themselves in the one-up position. Women are more likely to denigrate themselves with the understanding that other women will bring them back up. Within this context one considers the ramifications such a gender approach to compliments has in the workplace, as women are much more likely to assume the one-down position and suffer as a result. A further element that distinguishes gender along communication lines occurs in terms of how they approach authority. In terms of criticizing individuals with authority it’s recognized that people in a subordinate position attempt to avoid hurting the individual’s feelings they the person is in a superior position. For women, Tannen (1995, p. 146) notes they “were more careful to save face for the other person when they were managing down than when they were managing up. This pattern recalls the way girls are socialized: Those who are in some way superior are expected to downplay rather than flaunt their superiority.” In terms of men, this is different wherein individuals attempt to indirectly inform each other of potential criticisms, rather than directly criticizing their superiors. Even as such forms of communication clearly place women at an employment disadvantage, rather than attempting to re-work sociolinguistic forms of gender communication, one notes that it would perhaps be more effective to train managers to recognize these different communication forms. It seems that the issues in workplace communication ultimately stem from patriarchal management forms that are not attuned to diverse communication patterns. In conclusion, this essay has examined sociolinguistic elements within the context of Tannen’s (1995) The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why. Within this understanding a variety of elements have been considered. Notably, the distinction between male and female forms of cultural communication is examined. In these regards, it’s demonstrated that males and females demonstrate differences in communication along the means they articulate apologies, compliments, take credit for accomplishments, and the means by which they approach authority. Ultimately, it’s clear that early age development contributes to these sociolinguistic differences, and that these differences manifest themselves in inequitable workplace conditions. References Tannen, D. (1995). ‘The power of talk who gets heard and why’. Harvard Business Review. Read More