This document discusses linguistic style and its importance. It notes that men and women tend to have different linguistic styles, with men using a more direct style focused on status while women use a more indirect style focused on rapport-building. These differences are influenced by cultural and gender factors and exist because directness helps men establish hierarchy in large groups, while indirectness helps women find common ground in smaller groups. The document recommends understanding different linguistic styles and characteristics, avoiding stereotyping, and giving everyone a chance to be heard.

1. Understanding
Linguistic Style
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why
Deborah Tanen
HBR - 1995

2. Importance
Everyone needs to
be heard and
understood

3. Linguistic
Style
TONE OF VOICE
RATE OF UTTERANCE
DEGREE OF LOUDNESS

4. Style
Direct v/s Indirect
Pacing & Pausing
Choice of Words
Elements of Speech (Jokes, Cliches,
Figure of Speech, Stories, Apologies)

5. Determinants
Cultural Influences
Individual Personality
Gender

6. Power of Language
Language Communicates
Ideas
Language Negotiates
Relationship

7. Gender Style
Man
• Status
Dimension
Woman
• Rapport
Dimension

8. Why it
happens
• Play In Larger Groups
• Establish Hierarchy
Man
• Have a smaller group
• Find Common Grounds
Woman

9. What they say
 TAKING CREDIT
 Men are ‘I’ oriented
 Women are ‘We’ oriented
 EXUDING CONFIDENCE
 Men Minimize Doubts
 Women Downplay Certainty
 Indirectness
 Men are indirect when admitting faults or weakness
 Women are indirect when dealing with others

10. Linguistic Literals
 Greetings – How do you do? Where are you going? When did you arrive?
 Apologies – I am sorry, has several meanings

11. Listen between the Lines
 Understand the speakers’ linguistic style
 Understand the gender characteristic
 Guard against stereo-typing
 Give a chance to everyone to be heard

12. Recommended
Reading