Ever wonder why men and women sometimes seem like they’re speaking different languages? Linguists have been digging into this mystery, going beyond vocabulary differences to explore how men and women communicate in unique ways. This article aims to discover the fascinating world of gender-specific language patterns, pulling insights from reliable sources to give you the lowdown on this captivating aspect of human interaction.

Communication Styles: Reading Between the Lines

When it comes to social interactions, men and women often showcase distinct communication styles. Women, in particular, have a knack for using implicit language, especially when expressing their wants or likes. Picture this: you’re on a date, and your girlfriend doesn’t outright say where she’d like to go. Instead, she drop hints, leaving it to you to play detective and figure out their unspoken preferences. This tendency aligns with what linguists have found – women often use subtle communication strategies to get their point across (Lakoff, 1975).

Tag Questions and Rising Intonation: The Women’s Secret Language

One of the landmark studies on gender-specific language use, led by Deborah Tannen in 1975, shed light on the prevalence of tag questions in women’s speech. Tannen argued that women deploy tag questions as a way of hedging, adding a touch of uncertainty or seeking reassurance. She also pointed out that women frequently use rising intonation on statements, making them sound like questions. This linguistic quirk adds a layer of complexity to women’s communication, requiring a nuanced interpretation to grasp their intended meaning.

Different Strokes: Men vs. Women in Language

Linguists have delved into the intriguing differences in emphasis between men’s and women’s language, shedding light on unique communication styles. Research indicates that men typically prioritize conveying information, striving for clarity and directness. In contrast, women often assign a higher significance to social connections and the cultivation of relationships (Tannen, 1990). For instance, women may engage in sharing gossip as a means to foster and maintain relationships among themselves (Tannen, 1991). This communication practice, far from being trivial, serves as a social bonding mechanism, strengthening connections within their social circles. On the other hand, men tend to share information selectively, focusing on relaying pertinent and crucial details.

In conclusion, the use of language between men and women unfolds as a multifaceted phenomenon, intricately woven with various linguistic nuances. Deborah Tannen’s groundbreaking work in 1975 marked a significant milestone, offering a gateway to a deeper comprehension of these distinctive communication styles. The delicacy inherent in women’s language, coupled with their strong emphasis on social connections, contributes to the rich tapestry of human communication. Importantly, recognizing and appreciating these nuanced differences in language aligns with the global pursuit of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 – Gender Equality. SDG 5 emphasizes the importance of dismantling gender stereotypes and promoting equal opportunities in various spheres, including communication. As our understanding of gender differences in language continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly crucial to consider these nuances not only for enhancing interpersonal communication but also as part of a broader commitment to fostering gender equality. By acknowledging and valuing the unique ways in which men and women communicate, we contribute to creating a more inclusive and respectful world.

References:
Lakoff, R. (1975). Language and Woman’s Place. Harper & Row.
Tannen, D. (1975). You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. William Morrow and Company, Inc.
Tannen, D. (1990). You’re Wearing THAT?: Understanding Mothers and Daughters in Conversation. Random House.
Tannen, D. (19911990). You just don’t understand: women and men in conversation. 1st Ballantine Books ed. New York, Ballantine.

This article has previously been published by Pusat Bahasa FIB UGM through this link.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2024, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences of Universitas Gadjah Mada UGM sent a student representative named I Putu Adhimas Radiansyah Aryawan to participate in the Pojok Bulaksumur dialogue session. Pojok Bulaksumur is a casual dialogue session held by UGM that involves the university’s leadership and the media, aiming to provide information transparency to the general public. At this Pojok Bulaksumur event, three main speakers were invited to discuss the latest issues in the general election and the role of students as youth in exercising their right to vote and making their choices for the future of the nation and state. The three speakers were: Alfath Bagus Panuntun El Nur Indonesia, S.I.P., M.A., a lecturer in the Department of Politics and Government UGM, Laksito Lintang Kinanthi, the Chairman of the Student Element Board of Trustees, and Linda Kristiani Sianturi, Law Student from Faculty of Law Batch 2022.

Pojok Bulaksumur was opened with a speech by the University Secretary, Dr. Andi Sandi Antonius Tabusassa Tonralipu, S.H., LL.M., who gave a message to the university’s public relations and staff to communicate information transparently, both in the front office and back office, especially during moments when issues surrounding Single Tuition Fees (UKT) and PTN-BH status are starting to emerge. Dr. Andi Sandi also opened the Pojok Bulaksumur dialogue by giving a brief introduction to the general election, specifically the theme of first-time voters for the election of legislative candidates and executive candidates.

After the opening speech, the event continued with a casual dialogue session with the three speakers about the performance of the presidential and vice presidential candidates in the debates, which represented the discussion of the executive branch, and a discussion that highlighted the legislative election, which also plays an important role in the current general election atmosphere. The discussion then continued with the speakers’ hopes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates regarding universities, inclusive digital spaces for voters, the trend of youth commodification, and green elections, which are a concern for environmental issues after the campaign.

“This Pojok Bulaksumur discussion was very beneficial and opened up a space for education about the general election, especially the discussion about first-time voters, which was the subject of the theme that became the circle of discussion this time,” expressed Radiansyah Aryawan, the student representative from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.

The discussion at Pojok Bulaksumur on January 25, 2024, opened the eyes of students, invited media, and the university and faculty leadership and representatives to the transparency of information from UGM and the general election matters that are currently underway. As Linda Kristiani Sianturi said, all presidential and vice presidential candidates have a vision and mission for Indonesia Emas 2045, so we need to highlight each one’s vision and mission. This aligns with the implementation of SDG 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

The National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) is an annual national scientific competition organised by the National Achievement Centre (Pusat Prestasi Nasional). In the 36th PIMNAS event held at Padjadjaran University on Thursday (30/11/2023), the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Student Team won double gold and silver medals. The team was led by Ilham Nur Rahman (Agricultural Industrial Technology) with members Abdila (History), Ilham Andriyanto (Cultural Anthropology), Hanieke Syahla (Cultural Anthropology), and Mia Fadilah (Biology). The team was mentored by Dr Aprillia Firmonasari, S.S., M.Hum., DEA.

This medal was won from their research entitled “Ethnobotanical Index of Rejang Tribe: Shifting, Inheritance, and Conservation Strategy of Local Knowledge Towards Food Security in Indonesia”. In the research, the team examined the shift and process of inheritance of knowledge of cultivation and utilisation of food plants in the Rejang Tribe, and used it as a basis for preparing a policy framework for food security. With an interdisciplinary research concept, the team combined the quantitative approach of knowledge index to detect knowledge shifts and ethnography to explore knowledge inheritance patterns.

On Saturday, 9 December 2023, the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) held a short trip called Dolan Bareng event in Wanagama Forest, which was attended by FIB exchange students throughout Indonesia and international exchange students who are currently studying at FIB UGM. This activity aims to strengthen the bonds between students while providing an opportunity for refreshing after undergoing the end-of-semester exams.

The students departed from FIB UGM to Wanagama Forest using a bus. Upon their arrival, the group was warmly greeted with welcome drinks and snacks by the tour guide. While the students mingled and enjoyed their snacks, Prof. Dr Setiadi, M.Si., Dean of the Faculty, officially opened the event. The Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum, also gave a short briefing before the group started the journey through Wanagama Forest.

Following the path that had been prepared, the group of students explored the Wanagama Forest while getting to know the biodiversity in it. At the end of the trip, they were introduced to the typical Wanagama honeybee cultivation and invited to taste honey directly from the source. The activity was closed with lunch together before the group returned to the FIB UGM campus.

The Dolan Bareng event succeeded in creating valuable moments of togetherness amidst nature, involving students from various regions and countries. In addition, the Dolan Bareng agenda is in line with UGM’s commitment to accelerate the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) point 4, namely Quality Education.

The Department of Anthropology, Gadjah Mada University is again holding a Meniti Karir talk show entitled “Anthropology in Banking Economics”. This event will be held on Friday, November 10 2023 at the Multimedia Room, Fl. 2 Gd Margono, FIB, UGM. This event is open to Cultural Anthropology Students to provide students with insight into the various careers they can choose after graduating from college.

With the theme of Banking Economics, the Anthropology Department presented Reza Rachmadianto as Vice President of Special Asset Management PT. Bank Mandiri as a speaker at this event. Reza is also an alumnus of UGM Anthropology. Dr. Atik Triratnawati a lecturer in Anthropology at UGM was the trigger for this discussion.

This event began with a presentation session by Reza and continued with a question and answer session. In the final session of this event, Reza gave gifts in the form of electronic money from Livin by Mandiri to the 10 best quiz answerers. Then it closed with a group photo. We hope that this event can be useful for anthropology students in building their future careers.

Photo credit: Bonifacius Edo