IS IT GOING TO BE A MASCULINE LANGUAGE? EXPLORING THE LANGUAGE-GENDER RELATIONSHIP IN REFERRING TO THE OTHER SEX IN ARABIC SOCIETIES.

Journal Article

ALKADI, HISHAM . 2012

• المجلة \ الصحيفة: ARECLS
• رقم الإصدار السنوي: 9
• الصفحات: 115-140

مستخلص المنشور

Investigating the language-gender relationship is said to show fascinating results. The idea of how women and men use certain linguistic features has been stimulating researchers to examine different languages from several points of view. This study explores language differences in referring to the other sex and tries to investigate the underlying reasons which cause this particular language. It uses empirical data to examine the Arabic situation of referring to the other sex. Several Saudi and Emirati magazines were used as evidence to reflect the language that men use in referring to women and vice versa. The exploration has been done in three categories: generalisation, work positions and social roles. The study has found that referring to males is continuously respectful, polite and matching their gender. Referring to women, in contrast, is rarely mentioned in generalisation, sometimes matching in workplaces and most of the time is polite in the social context.