Gender Related Differences In Politeness

Gender-related Difference in the Use of Politeness Term

( Request)

1. Abstract The purpose of this proposal is to investigate the difference related to gender in the use of politeness term (request). This difference can noticed in the daily conversation of females, their emails, etc. In addition to that, observation and questionnaires are going to be used to reach a good and clear result. The research finds out that gender has a clear effect on requests. Even among women themselves, we find clear in differences in the way they make a request. In other words, young women, in particular, often make such polite requests that one can rarely refuse. Generally speaking, ladies tend to be more delicate and polite when asking for help or requesting

Introduction Many researchers studied the difference in the use of polite requests as far as gender is concerned. Most of them agreed that women usually make more polite requests than men. Some researchers opposed the idea that women are mostly more polite than men in making a request. However, most researchers noticed the extreme politeness in ladies’ requests, either expressed by emotions, body language or verbally, through communication as well as their use of daily language at work, in classroom, at home, or wherever. Lynch et al. (1987) proved that gender has an effect on the verbal behaviour among students. On the other hand, both men and women like to use techniques that employs face expressions to reflect their esteem and identity. Politeness is often used with a view to obtain co-operation, which is noticed in faxes, letters, emails, or generally electronic communication (Kaul et al., 2005). In addition, there are various techniques for a speaker to be polite. For example, a request can be made coldly and arrogantly or can be made kindly. This is always shown when people talk, especially when we know these people quite well. It is always easy to decide whether somebody is asking politely or impolitely. Not only that, but the level of politeness is always clear when people talk. That’s why a good research must be interested not only in the language people use when they talk, but in their face language, as an important part of the language of the body as well. When asked to do a favour, people are always interested in the face features of a person seeking request. Face features express the level politeness, need or whatever. Therefore, mostly requests made by a woman are seldom refused, being polite and show real need. Women avoid impoliteness or violence in verbal communication. They feel it is