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Language and Representation

A man and his young son were in a car crash. The father was killed and the son, who was critically injured, was rushed to a hospital. As attendants wheeled the unconscious boy into the emergency room, the doctor on duty looked down at him and said ‘My God, it’s my son’.

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Language and Representation

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  1. A man and his young son were in a car crash. The father was killed and the son, who was critically injured, was rushed to a hospital. As attendants wheeled the unconscious boy into the emergency room, the doctor on duty looked down at him and said ‘My God, it’s my son’. • What was the relationship of the doctor to the injured boy?

  2. A woman was driving with her son, when the car was struck by another vehicle. The woman was killed instantly, but her son, injured, was rushed to hospital. The theatre nurse looked at the surgeon, gasped and said: ‘But this is my son.’ How is this possible?

  3. Language and Representation The English language is systematically skewed to represent women as second class citizens (Montgomery) Evidence from Semantic Field of women certainly suggest this

  4. Can you define? • Address Terms • Diminutive Suffixes • Generic Terms • Lexical Asymmetry • Marked Terms • Semantic fields

  5. What do your names say about you? • Jonathan • Jonny • J-Dogg • Oki • Mr. O-P • Mr. Okwe-Pearson • The lad

  6. Career girls shorten their names to be ‘one of the boys’, a survey revealed yesterday. They use abbreviations like Jo, Chris and Sam because they see feminine names as an obstacle to success. Dr Helen Petrie, of Sussex University, said: ‘They see possessing male traits as a positive thing rather than a negative thing.’ ‘In today’s world maleness is associated with success, achievement and being in control.’ ‘Twice as many women as men actively chose to shorten their names to things like Nicky, Charlie or Mel.’ Aggressive The study also showed that women with masculine names were more likely to be tomboys. Dr Petrie said: ‘They not only see their names as masculine, but live up to it by being aggressive, forceful and independent.’ Nicknames help girls to get on top Would boys ever adopt feminine nicknames? How are nicknames created? What does this article say about male/ female stereotypes?

  7. Address Terms Mr/ Master Mrs/ Miss/ Ms Dr

  8. What is meant by the following? • Caravanette • Kitchenette • Suedette • Ladette Diminutive Suffixes

  9. Semantic Equivalents • These are pairs of terms that historically were differentiated by sex alone, but over time they have gained different connotations. • What are the different connotations behind the words? • What conclusion can you draw about how the English Language portrays women?

  10. Master Governor Bachelor Sissy Sir King Stag do Dog Mistress Governess Spinster Tomboy Madam Queen Hen do Bitch Semantic Equivalents?

  11. Find an alternative … • Manpower Masterpiece • Businessman Masters degree • Walkman Manslaughter • Forefathers Mastermind • Manhole Man-handle • Craftsman Countryman • Man overboard Masterful

  12. Semantic non-equivalents? “A master is in control, but a mistress is kept for sex. Compare old master and old mistress. A bachelor is an approving term, but a spinster is a sad thing to be. Compare bachelor pad and spinster pad. A patron is a business client, but a matron is an old nurse. If a man is a pro, he is competent; if a woman is a pro, she is a prostitute. If a man is a tramp, he is a homeless scuff; if a woman, a prostitute.” From Jackson and Stockwell ‘An Introduction to the nature and Functions of Language’

  13. Lexical Asymmetry

  14. General Lexical Reference • Like other mammals, man nourishes his young with milk • Mankind, man made, man power • Man sometimes had difficulties giving birth • She corners well, God bless her and all who sail in her • Lady Doctor, Male nurse, House Husband Is there a gender free alternative? What are the gender assumptions that lie behind these examples?

  15. Generic Terms Marked Terms

  16. Semantic Fields Tactful Athletic Emotional Slim Ambitious Dominant Pretty Elegant Aggressive Neat Tidy Nurturing Intellectual Bubbly Neurotic Graceful Strong Competitive Controlled Muscular Beautiful Bright Fragile Bimbo Buxom Rugged Hysterical Kind Capable Gentle Physique Agile

  17. Language and Representation The English language is systematically skewed to represent women as second class citizens (Montgomery)

  18. Can you define? • Address Terms • Diminutive Suffixes • Generic Terms • Lexical Asymmetry • Marked Terms • Semantic fields

  19. Is Language Sexist? • Skim read the article and highlight the key points. • Reduce the article to 5 key sentences • Reduce the article to 5 key words • What ideas does this article raise about gender?

  20. Preparing for your Diagnostic Assessment • GASP • The terms we have used today • What does this text tell you about attitudes to gender? • USE YOUR GLOSSARY SHEET • Keep quoting from the text

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