The Differences between Male and Female’s Speech in Social Interaction Performed by 2009 English Department Students Faculty of Letters Jember University

Abstract

People have their own way to communicate. It can be influenced by gender. Male and female’s cultures and personality generally differ in how they communicate each other. The interactional style that they use in communication is different. Every group has its own subject matter based on their gender. Gender is a way for society to divide people into two categories, male and female. People perhaps choose deliberately to speak in certain ways to sign their social identity such as their gender and their membership in a particular community. Furthermore, this thesis analyzes the differences betweeen male and female in showing politeness and choosing topics in 2009 English Department Students, Faculty of Letters, Jember University. Most respondents are from Javanese and Madurese ethnics. Usually, both of Javanese and Madurese etnics use language level in order to show their politeness. In Javanese this level is called “ngoko” and “kromo” and in Madurese this level is called “tak abesah” and “abesah”. These levels of language are used to show their politeness. Another differences between male and female in showing politeness are the use of politeness strategies. Most female respondents often do positive politeness strategies, such as using avoid dissagreement, giving symphaty and understanding to the hearer. These strategies are used to make the hearer feel comfortable with them. On the other side, most male respondents do not like to do those positive politeness strategies. They say that giving symphaty and understanding is not very important to show by words. Furthermore, politeness can be in the form of behaviours as well as verbal and nonverbal language. Male and female also show some gestures in their speech. They often use these gestures when they meet lectures in campus or someone else of a higher social status. Male and female also differ in how they communicate each other. Male and female communicate to people from their own gender in different topics. Female like talking about feelings, relationship, their works, lecture and their family. They talk with their friends, sister, mom and neighbour often about their relationship and themselves. People gossip to make themselves feel better. By talking about personal and private matters of other people they can flow up their feelings. On the contrary, usually male talk about their study, jobs, debate about politic and lesson, share about sport and sometimes they talk about female. The theories from Hudson (1996), Gelles (1999), Giddens (2005) and Coates (1986), and some theories from other experts is considered as theoretical review related to the topic being discussed. Library and field research are applied in this thesis. The data used in this thesis are qualitative data.