3 Women 3 Ways

"I'm sorry," "I'm no expert, but...," "I think." You know you've used them. The qualifiers and minimizers women learn to use when talking so we don't sound bossy or pushy. While we may have come a long way in careers and money, is it possible that we haven't come far at all in equalizing the language we use in our relationships and our careers? Is there a female way to speak? And does it really matter? Some studies have shown that men and women use different language, but it is much more complicated. Several factors, including the conversation topic and characteristics of the communication partner influence our language choices. Knowing if, how, and when men and women use and understand language differently may improve how you communicate your intentions. Adrienne B. Hancock, PhD is coauthor of a study, "Influence of Communication Partner's Gender on Language." She is an associate profesor at George Washington University's Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, and she knows how gender is involved in la