Linguistics

2. In today’s world, gender roles are fast changing where steretyping of
men to masculine and women to feminine are no longer prominent.
Language and gender stereotypes are becoming inapplicable to today’s
men and women.
In general, men and women are known to use language differently, but
sometimes they may unintentionally exhibit feminine or masculine
speech characteristics respectively when they talk.

3. Gender Differences in Spoken
Language
In a conversation, women prefer to discuss personal topics while men
prefer public issues and would avoid discussing private topics.
Women are more ‘involved’ and use emotional language pertaining to
their feelings and thoughts.
Men seek ‘information’ and speak in a more straightforward manner
and authoritative language.

4. Gender Differences in Written
Language
A study by Akhmaliah (2009) concludes that three features appearing
in female blog posts (Friendster and Blogspot) which conformed to
Lakoff (1975) theory are Lexical Hedges, Intensifiers, and Tag
Questions.
Research on gender differences in written language is quite limited
compared to gender differences in spoken language because formal
written texts (books and articles) obviously cannot convey intonation
and phonological cues compared to spoken language.

5. Gender and Online
LAnguageBased on the research by Rosset (1998), on the use of email, women uses more
frequently open expressions of appreciation and thanks, while men uses ‘tighter’ and
less direct expressions.
THE NATURE OF
BLOGSBlogs can be used as a platform to solicit ideas and receive comments from
others that may improve interaction and reflective and critical thinking.
When students use blogs as individuals, they have full control and ownership of the
content. Blogs is one of the Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) tools that uses
text as conversation
THE PRESENT
STUDY-- Examines the differences in language use between male and female bloggers who
are currently studying in Malaysian public universities.
-- Looking at the relatedness of language use with the gender of the bloggers

6. Methodolo
gyUsing a qualitative research design, this study uses a case study approach by
focussing on a group who carry out the same activity within a specific time.
The main participants are selected from BlogMalaysia.com, a platform in
Malaysian Bloggers Directory. Four bloggers selected using certain criteria.
RESEARCH
INSTRUMENTSBlog postings of the four teenagers who treat their blogs as a diary where they
expres their feelings about daily issues to do with their lives and their studies.
Word Counting Tool
To count the frequency of words
having the identified
characteristics of the language
used in their postings.
Checklist
To assist in the process of
observing the blogs
BlogMalaysia.com
Free and The fastest growing
blog directory in Malaysia

7. Result
s* Male bloggers are identified as S1 and S2
Female bloggers are identified as S3 and S4
a) Intensifiers

8. Result
s
b) Hedging

9. Result
s
c) Tag Questions

10. Result
s
d) Empty Adjectives

11. Result
s
e) Adverbs

12. Discussions
Women use more hedges and intensifiers compared to men. Women and men use
the language according to the society’s beliefs of both sexes should
communicate. Women use intensifiers to boost the language (Lakoff, 1975).
Intensifier &
Lexical Hedges
Tag Questions Empty Adjectives Initial Adverbs

13. Conclusion
Amir , Z., Abidin, H., Darus, S., Ismail, K. (2012). Gender Differences n The Language Use of Malaysian Teen VBloggers, GEMA Online Journal of
Language Studies, 12 (1), 105-124.
References:
Thanks for your attention ;-)
Language features such as intensifiers, lexical hedges and empty adjectives
are very closely related to gender and socialization.
The use of adverbs do not seem to be related to gender.
There are some gender differences in language use
among Malaysian teenage bloggers.