Gendered Language: A Review of Available Literature.

Abstract

The most significant difference between human beings is the gender difference. Therefore, people of different genders will have their own gender characteristics, which leads to the gender differences in language. This study is an examination of influence of gender on language. The paper has been carried out as a literature review with the support of available literature, observations, informal conversations with laymen and opinions on scholars in the field of linguistics. The paper intends to investigate the gendered aspect of the language in relation to phonology, morphology and vocabulary, syntax and semantics and pragmatics. The study further seeks to discuss assumptions on nature of language that men and women use, supremacy in patterns of language use, and sexism exist within different languages. The latter part of the paper is dedicated to confer progressive language policies to address existing language issues at a point of time where huge socio-cultural and political changes is happening in outer world in relation to women‟s lives which is generally considered second or weaker sex. The study concludes proposing that language should be more people-oriented than relying on gender differences, minimizing discrimination of individuals‟ language rights.