Effects of Gender on Language Acquisition
Objectives:
You will be able to define gender, language acquisition, and other important terms so there will be a fuller understanding of their relationship.
You will be able to identify the challenges in the way females develop language.
You will be able to identify the challenges in the way males develop language.
You will be able to identify the challenges in the way females develop language.
You will be able to identify the challenges in the way males develop language.
Definitions
Gender: How you identify, influenced by society and culture. Female/female/transgender.
Language Acquisition: Humans acquire language and learn to communicate through language.
Sex: What you were born with, biological. Female or Male.
It is important to know the difference of sex and gender when talking about this
Difference between gender & sex...
Language Acquisition: Humans acquire language and learn to communicate through language.
Sex: What you were born with, biological. Female or Male.
It is important to know the difference of sex and gender when talking about this
Difference between gender & sex...
Language Acquisition & Females
In Academic Words and Gender published by the Cambridge Journal for Studies in Second Language Acquisition, it was concluded that language acquisition can be dependent on language exposure. In the study, it was said that young girls are exposed to less vocabulary at a younger age. This has to do with the schooling and the schooling styles that are used for boys and girls. It was noted that "if women are exposed to fewer words, then they have fewer opportunities to acquire these words" and are therefore behind (Scarcella and Zimmerman, 30).
The reason girls can tend to be behind in language acquisition is because schooling can be different for girls. According to a study done by Sadker and Sadker in 1986, boys receive more attention from teachers in school. Boys were "called on from 2 to 12 times more often than girls in any class period" and boys were "8 times as likely to participate in class" than girls (Scarcella and Zimmerman, 30). As a result of this, girls are less likely to want to express themselves or try in class and therefore do not have equal schooling or opportunity in the classroom as boys. Having less direct exposure in the classroom causes girls to have less exposure to new language. This is the reason girls can be behind in language acquisition.
During puberty, many girls' self esteem drops. As a result of this, they become ore self conscience and more hesitant to participate in class. This also contributes to girls having less exposure to language. Girls are less likely to take a risk and answer a question because they are afraid of being wrong, this causes them to miss out on learning opportunities. In a study by Zimmerman and West done in 1975, it was found that women are less likely to interrupt than men. Men are more likely to interrupt and are more likely to interrupt women rather than other men. On the other hand, once women were interrupted they were less likely to try to speak up again.
In conclusion, women seem to be disadvantaged when it comes to exposure to new language. Schooling puts more importance on young boys having the opportunities to communicate. The self esteem during adolescence also plays a role in women being less likely to become exposed to new language.
The reason girls can tend to be behind in language acquisition is because schooling can be different for girls. According to a study done by Sadker and Sadker in 1986, boys receive more attention from teachers in school. Boys were "called on from 2 to 12 times more often than girls in any class period" and boys were "8 times as likely to participate in class" than girls (Scarcella and Zimmerman, 30). As a result of this, girls are less likely to want to express themselves or try in class and therefore do not have equal schooling or opportunity in the classroom as boys. Having less direct exposure in the classroom causes girls to have less exposure to new language. This is the reason girls can be behind in language acquisition.
During puberty, many girls' self esteem drops. As a result of this, they become ore self conscience and more hesitant to participate in class. This also contributes to girls having less exposure to language. Girls are less likely to take a risk and answer a question because they are afraid of being wrong, this causes them to miss out on learning opportunities. In a study by Zimmerman and West done in 1975, it was found that women are less likely to interrupt than men. Men are more likely to interrupt and are more likely to interrupt women rather than other men. On the other hand, once women were interrupted they were less likely to try to speak up again.
In conclusion, women seem to be disadvantaged when it comes to exposure to new language. Schooling puts more importance on young boys having the opportunities to communicate. The self esteem during adolescence also plays a role in women being less likely to become exposed to new language.
Scarcella, R., & Zimmerman, C. (2000). Academic Words and Gender. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 20(01).
Language Acquisition & Males
One thing that has always stuck out to me about language acquisition in males is that males are more likely to have a stutter. Of course, this is not something that applies to all males but it is something to note when talking about language acquisition and males. According to the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), "boys are twice as likely to stutter as girls; as they get older, however, the number of boys who continue to stutter is three to four times larger than the number of girls" meaning, boys are more affected by stuttering (NIDCD).
Stuttering is able to be helped with different speech therapies. Different treatments involve self help groups, drug therapy, and electronic therapies that will help fluency. Research is currently being done to see why boys are more likely to have a stutter. Research is also being done on what treatments are the most helpful.
Stuttering does not effect the entire gender of males, it is just more likely to occur to boys. Although boys are more advantage when it comes to language acquisition in general because of the previous section. Boys tend to have more confidence when it comes to speaking in class.
Although this does not apply to everyone, it is important to note that stuttering is more common to boys and can effect their language acquisition. Boys with speech disorders are likely to lose confidence and become more hesitant of speaking in front of others. This hesitancy can hinder language acquisition because they will be less exposed to language if they themselves do not want to speak.
Stuttering is able to be helped with different speech therapies. Different treatments involve self help groups, drug therapy, and electronic therapies that will help fluency. Research is currently being done to see why boys are more likely to have a stutter. Research is also being done on what treatments are the most helpful.
Stuttering does not effect the entire gender of males, it is just more likely to occur to boys. Although boys are more advantage when it comes to language acquisition in general because of the previous section. Boys tend to have more confidence when it comes to speaking in class.
Although this does not apply to everyone, it is important to note that stuttering is more common to boys and can effect their language acquisition. Boys with speech disorders are likely to lose confidence and become more hesitant of speaking in front of others. This hesitancy can hinder language acquisition because they will be less exposed to language if they themselves do not want to speak.
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/stutter.aspx
This video will help give you a fuller understanding of what a stutter is and how it effects children.
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