Impression formation as a function of the sex role appropriateness of linguistic behavior

Differences between perceptions of men's and women's language were investigated. Undergraduates (64 male, 64 female) read 14 short stories with male or female speakers using seven categories of male and female language. Subjects then rated stimulus persons on 23 sex role related adjectives. Male language was rated as more masculine, less feminine, more instrumental, and less socially positive than female language. Effects were strongest for the categories of expletives and adjectives, followed by weaker effects for hedges and polite forms. Subjects rated males who spoke women's language as homosexual; they tended to rate females who spoke men's language as uppity. The results are discussed in terms of Robin Lakoff's hypotheses concerning linguistic sex differences and in terms of inrole vs out-of-role behavior.The research reported here is based upon a thesis submitted by the first author to Tulane University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master's degree. The support of Professors Larry Dachowski, William P. Dunlap and Edgar C. O'Neal, members of the thesis committee, is gratefully acknowledged.