1、Unit 12Gender Bias in LanguageGender=Sex?Sex marks the distinction betweenmen and women as a result of theirbiological,physicalandgeneticdifferences.Gender roles are set by conventionand other social,economic,political,and cultural forces.I ti snotnecessarily on the basis of biologicaldistinction.?G
2、ender Differences?Gender difference is a term used to refer to social characteristicthat distinguish men and women.These include such things asdifferences in hair styles,clothing,familyresponsibilities,occupational roles,acceptable behavior andotherculturallylearned activities andtraits.All of these
3、 differences are linkedto the non-biological notions of masculinity and femininitywhich vary from one culture to another.Men and women speak differently?Perceptually,female and male are said to speak differentvarieties of language:women are said to use distinctlyfeminine words,are more meticulous th
4、an men in enunciatingwords and sentences and in the use of intonation patterns,employmarkedgrammaticalfeatures,andtendtobegrammatically hypercorrect.Phonologically:In many accents of American English,it hasbeen found that womens vowels are more peripheral morefront,more back,higher,or lower than men
5、s.Lexically:Men tend to use taboo words more often thanwomen.Word choice in some languages is gender-markedGrammatically:Multiple negation,charactersConversation:topic,how much to talkuuuuGender BiasGender bias in Chineselanguage?妄、妥、妻、委、妾、耍、婆、娶、婪?爷、爸、爹、斧?妖、奴、奸、婪、妄、妒、嫉、婊、娼、妓?好、妙、娆、妩、姣、婷、娴、嫩、婉、娇、婧Gen
6、der bias in Chinese language?男女、夫妻、夫妇、子女、公婆、兄妹、父母、祖父母、伯父伯母、岳父岳母、夫唱妇随、男尊女卑、男男女女、男耕女织、男欢女爱、男婚女嫁爷们儿，妇人之见，女流之辈?先生，小姐/女士?市长，女市长，女强人?贱内，糟糠，浑家，屋里的，烧火的?Gender bias in Chinese language?黛玉芙蓉;宝钗牡丹;元春桃花;迎春菊花;探春杏花;惜春水仙;妙玉梅花;李纨兰花;巧姐梨花;凤姐玫瑰;可卿樱花;湘云芍药红颜祸水?水性杨花?Have you found any gender bias in English language?Can
7、you give some examples?Gender bias in English language1.In English,man:M&FMan can conquer the nature meeting:womanchairmanThen:Madam chairman2.speaking or writing:gender unknown personhe!not she?One&ones,repeated he!not she?Everyone,everybody,anyone,anybody:he,she or they,but more frequently he/him/
8、his,not sheGender bias in English language?3.men and women,boys and girls,father and mother,husband and wife,Mr.and Mrs.,Sir and Madam,etc.Of course there are exceptions:ladies and gentlemen?4.governorgovernessa call boy a call girl.Gender bias in English language?the colour of sex discrimination;th
9、e equality of the sexesThen comes feminismAt the end of the 20thcentury,many gender-related terms were replaced by gender-neutral forms(e.g.,actor for both man and woman,server instead of waiter and waitress,chairinstead of chairman and chairwoman,mail carrierinstead of mailman)in a number of Englis
10、h speaking communitiesspokesperson,businessperson,chairperson,mailperson,even spokeswoman.?Possible explanationsuBiologymen are innately predisposed to independence and vertical relationships and women to dependence and horizontal relationships.Dual culture model(apolitical)how societys work is divi
11、ded between the two sexes.Dominance model(political)male dominance in society is a major contributing factor.Language socialization patternshow young children are socialized within family and in social surroundings(men learn to be men and women learn to be women).?uGlobal reading of the text?1.What
12、type of writing is the text?This text is an expositive essay with reference togenderbias inlanguage.2.Whats the main strategy to develop this expositive essay?Thetextismainly developedbymeans ofexemplification.Examples are abundantlyused inParagraphs 2-6.?Structural analysis3.Work out the structure
13、of the textParagraph(s)1Main ideaThe writer raises the issue to be discussed by introducing two different opinions.2-67The writer provides quite a number of typical examples to illustrate gender bias in language.The writer makes his attitude or opinion clear on the issue of gender bias in language.D
14、etailed reading-Para.1?1.2.What does the author think of language?Powerful,yet complicated.Which two opinions are presented in the first paragraph?“Is language the cause of the bias?”“Is language reflective of the preexisting bias that the user holds?What is your opinion?Understand&Interpret?1.How d
15、o you interpret the two opinions mentioned in the text?The languagewe use everydayis by naturenot fairandthe wayit is used is also biased.First of all,we have prejudices and bias withinourselves andthen we denoteit throughthe use oflanguage.2.Paraphrase?,that we must take into account the persons li
16、nguisticgenealogy.is it reflective of the preexisting bias that the user holds?That is to say,the words that people choose to use inconversation denote the bias that they harbor within theirown existence.?Language work1.bias:1)n.an opinion or feeling that strongly favors one side in an argument or a
17、n item in a group or series;predisposition;prejudiceEx:This university has a bias towards the sciences.Students were evaluated without bias.2)vt.to unfairly influence attitudes,choices,or decisionsEx:Several factors could have biased the results of the study.Collocation:bias against/towards/in favor
18、 ofEx:Its clear that the company has a bias against women and minorities.Language work?2.nuance:adj.slight,delicate or subtle difference in color,appearance,meaning,feeling,etc.Ex:Language teachers should be able to react to nuances of meaning of common words.He was aware of every nuance in her voic
19、e.Synonym:subtlety?Collocation:nuance ofLanguage work?3.genealogy:a diagram showing a particular persons ancestry;successive generations of kin;family tree Language work?4.reflective:adj.(of a person,mood,etc.)thoughtful;(of a surface)reflecting lightEx:She is in a reflective mood.These are reflecti
20、ve plates.?Derivation:reflect v.reflectiveness:n.Language work5.harbor:v.?to keep bad thoughts,fear and hopes in your mind for a long time?Ex:I think he is harboring some sort of grudge against me.?to contain sth esp.sth hidden and dangerousEx:Sinks can harbor germs.?to protect and hide the criminal
21、Ex:You may be punished if youharbor an escape criminal.Detailed reading-Para.2?What is the point in regard to gender bias the author wants to make in Para.2?Some words in English areinherently biasedagainst women.The English language generally reflects male supremacyand female subservience.Examples?
22、Understand&Paraphrase?There are words in the English language that are existing orhave existed(and)that have inherently been sexually biasedagainst women.The language is arranged so that men are identified withexalted positions,and women are identified with more service-oriented positions in which t
23、hey are being dominated andinstructed by men.So the language used to convey this type of male supremacyis generally reflecting the honored position of the male and thesubservience of the female.?Language work1.inherent:adj.existing as a natural or permanent feature orquality?Ex:The problems you ment
24、ionare inherent in thesystem.?勤劳俭朴是中华民族的本色。Industry and frugality are the inherent qualities of the Chinesenation.inherently:adv.2.identify:v.show or prove who sb.is or what sth.is;recognizesb./sth.as being the specified?Ex:She identifiedthe manas her attacker.We cannotidentifywealthwithhappiness.He
25、 refused to identify himself with the radicalleft.?identification:n.Language work?3.orient:v.direct sbs interest to sth;direct sth at sb;speciallydesign sth for sbEx:The teacher tried to orient his students towardsthe science.These courses wereorientedto foreign students.Womentendto doservice-orient
26、edjobs.4.insult:v.speak or act in a way that intends to hurtsomeones feeling or dignityinsulting:adj.very rude and offensive to someoneEx:It is insultingto a highly skilled worker to beoffered such a lowsalary.?Detailed reading-Para.3?Can you find out the topic sentence in paragraph 3?This shows tha
27、t the usage of manyof the Englishwordsis also whatcontributesto the bias present inthe Englishlanguage.Examples?1.What a man/woman is valued for?2.In word pairs,the usage shows the bias,that is masculine words usually go before the feminine words.?Can you give some Chinese examples?Men from Mars,Wom
28、en VenusDetailed reading-Para.4?What is put forward by the author by giving us two examples?Womenare seen as passive whilemenare active andcanbringthingsintobeing.Examples?1.The bride will be given away from one man to another man.2.The woman becomes a bride while man wed woman.Theman takes away a w
29、omans virginity and a woman loses hervirginity.?Language work1.bring things into being:cause things to come into existence;create things?Ex:That outstanding scientist is good at bringing things into beings.Sth comes into being:come into existence;happen?Ex:It was a great time because computer came i
30、nto e into play:be active or have an influence?Ex:Personal feelings should not come into play when you make political decisions.High prices of food have come into play in our life.bring sth into play:cause sth to come into play?Ex:You may bring your strength into play.Language work?3.perpetuate:vt.m
31、ake a situation,attitude,etc.,especially a bad one,continue to exist for a long timeEx:These measures will perpetuate the hostility between the two groups.Derivation:perpetuation:n.?Understand&Paraphrase?Thisdenote s herinability,apparentlyduetohergender,toholdontosomething that is a part ofher,thus
32、enforcing theman s ability andright toclaim something that is nothis.This exampleindicate s that because of her gender,woman is notable to keep or retainsomethingthat isa naturalpartof her,therefore it strengthen s mansability and right to request and declare somethingthatdoes notbelongto her.?Langu
33、age work4.enforce:vt.1)make sth.such as a statement,an argument,a belief,etc.more forceful Ex:Have any statistics that would enforce your argument?2)make sth.such as law,rules,etc.effectiveEx:Governments make laws and the police enforce them.Collocations:enforce sth.on/against sth.enforce sth.on sbD
34、etailed reading-Para.5?Whats the main idea of this paragraph?Itstatesthe linguistic differencethat are fargreater positive connotationsconnectedwithbeing amanthanwithbeinga woman.Examples?shrew:n.small mouse-like animal that feeds on insects 鼩鼱ill-tempered scolding womanshrewd:adj.having or showing
35、good judgment and commonsense“marked by clever discerning awareness”Little girls for being tomboy is OK,but little boys playingdolls or riding girls bicycles is not acceptable.?Understand&Paraphrase?To be endowed by genetics with the encoding of a male wouldbe as having been shown grace,unmerited fa
36、vor.Paraphrase:To be predeterminedby ones geneticstructure to be a malewouldbe as havingbeen shownGods kindnessandundeservedfavor.?Language work1.be endowed with sth:to naturally have a good feature or quality?Ex:She was endowed with both good looks and brains.endow sb/sth with sth:make sb/sth have
37、a particular quality?Ex:Herbs have been used for centuries to endow a whole range of foods with subtle flavors.2.merit:vt.be worthy of,deserve?Ex:I think the suggestion merits consideration.?merit:n.unmerited:adj.not really deservedLanguage work3.vicious:adj.acting or done with evil intentions;spite
38、ful?Ex:I was shocked by his vicious look.(of animals)savage and dangerous?Ex:Judging from the basic meaning of“shrew”,women may be regarded the same as a vicious animal.viciously:adv.viciousness:n.Detailed reading-Para.6?Which sentences in Paragraph 6 denote the writers attitude?Thesentences that sh
39、ow thewriters attitudetowards the use of impoliteterms in reference towomenare“but whyuse them whenthere are somanymoreto choose from?”and“Itis also the mosteffective weapon of destruction.”Detailed reading-Para.6?Vulgar or derogatory words are used in reference to or directed toward women.babe:n.(s
40、l.)young womana way of speaking to someone you love,wife or husband?attractive a way of speaking to young womana woman,offensive?broad:n.(US sl.)womanrude,with sexbroad in the beam?chick:n.(dated,sexist)young womanDetailed reading-Para.7?What kind of change has taken place in regard to gender biasin
41、 language?What is the writers opinion in reference to gender bias inlanguage?The writerthinksit is necessary to makethe properadjustmentsinternallyto use appropriatelanguagetoeffectively includeboth genders,andthat it is uptoourdecisionof the properwordused.?Language work1.qualify:v.have the right t
42、o have or do sth?Ex:Hequalified forthe unemployment benefit,but he did not plan to apply for it.Membership of the club qualifies you for the access.Pass an examination or finish a course in order to do sth?Ex:He finally qualified as a pilot.Make the statement less general or extreme?Ex:I must qualif
43、y my last remarks in case they are misinterpreted.qualified:adj.?Ex:It takes more than 10 years to become a qualifieddoctor.Language work?2.be up to sb.:be required as a duty or obligation from sb.;be left to sb.to decideEx:It is up to us to help those in need.Its up to you whether you take the job
44、or not.What do you prefer,an Indian meal or a Chinese meal?It is up to you.Key to ExercisesExercise-?I.?D?II.?T F F TTComprehensionExercise-Comprehension?1.2.3.4.IV.Language is an intricate system capable of expressing subtledifferences in meaning,emotion,attitude and so on.The words people choose t
45、o use in conversationshow theprejudices they hold within themselves.Nilsen argues that,at the beginning of a wedding ceremony,when the father is asked who gives the bride away and heranswers,I do sexual prejudice shows itself.To be born a man,with the mark of male,is almost likereceiving grace,a fav
46、or from God one doesnt usuallydeserve.Exercise-Vocabulary I.?1.consider/take into consideration?2.by its nature and by the way it is used.?3.mens superiority?4.the reason that leads to?5.begins to show itself?6.in connection withExercise-?1.bias?2.perpetuate?3.oriented?4.achievements?5.exalts?6.misi
47、nterpreted?7.In reference to?8.yielded?9.tempers?10.supremacyVocabulary II.Exercise-1.C2.D3.A4.B5.C6.A7.A8.B9.C10.DVocabulary III.Exercise-Vocabulary IV.?Prejudice:refers to a dislike or even hatred for a particulargroup,race,or religion,in a largely unexpressed or evenunknown manner.Bias:points to
48、a predisposition either for or against something.?Where prejudice can indicate a fixed,inflexible attitude,biasmight suggest only a tendancy to take a given view.1.a.biasc.biasb.prejudiced.prejudice?Exercise-Vocabulary IV.?Request:suggests a courteous statement of desire,and it is frequentlyused as
49、a euphemismfordemandin order to hide the latters harshness;Claim:suggests that a right is being asserted or onehas the right to something.?2.?a.requestedb.claim?c.requestedd.claim?Exercise-Vocabulary IV.?Connect:is used of things that come into contact atsome point while clearly remaining separate.I
50、t mayalso suggest a contact that results in the transfer ofpower from a source to a receiver.?Attach:applies to the fastening on of a part to a whole,of a lesser thing to a greater,or of something movableto something fixed.3.?a.connectingb.connected?c.attachesd.attached?Exercise-Vocabulary IV.?Examp
