Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why Essay

There is no particular way to march on according the Deborah Tannen as communication is not just saying what you mean unless how one communicates the meaning. Situation varies from one psyche to another. Language communicates ideas but a to a greater extent powerful form of communication is loving behavior . Language recitation is a elatet social behavior that allows us to negotiate relationships and it is influenced by cultural experience . How we talk and express ourselves may be interpreted variedly in other cultures and members of the opposite gender . Deborah Tannen a linguist from Georgetown University did a research on the influence of linguistic style on conversations and human relationships and found that how we learn to speak as children affects our judgment of competence and confidence plus whether we get heard in a discussion later on in adulthood . She found that man and woman communicate differently and just like cross cultural communication, mis ground can occu r. Women according to her research were often everywhere looked when it came to opportunities for promotion because of their lack of self confidence as seen by their male bosses.But women, as Tannen proves have grown up in a different environment to their male colleagues and have learnt to communicate differently to men . This has sometimes been interpreted as being less competent and less confident . An understanding of these differences could lead to better and fairer working environment for both men and women . As children, girls and boys play differently. Girls are more than than potential to learn how to develop a kind relationship with others and focus on common goals alternatively than differences. Girls tend to balances their needs with those of others to avoid seeming over confident or bossy . Boys are more likely to learn how to develop their status in society by playing in large groups of boys whose leadership roles are defined . They are likely to use language to co mmunicate their needs and highlight their abilities rather than down grade them in an attempt to move up the leadership hierarchy . This social behavior is carried on into adulthood and into the workplace resulting in both genders having different communication skills and expressing what they mean.Men tend to be sensitive to the power dynamics of interaction, utter in ways that position themselves as one up and resisting being put in a one-down position by others. Women tend to react more strongly to the rapport dynamic, speaking in ways that fulfil face for others and buffering statements that could be seen as putting others in a one-down position.. This means that women are more likely to down grade their ability and not want to seem as boastful whereas men are more likely to speak exceedingly of their abilities by blowing their own horn . Humans have developed a conversation ritual that demands a certain type of response. Again, Men and women have preferably diverse conversat ional rituals. Women tend to apologies more frequently to express concern and are likely to soften criticism to help the other person save face by being indirect in her feedback.They also ritually switch over compliment by taking the one-down position and expect the other person to understand the exchange ritual and pull them up again with compliments . Men on the other hand, avoid apologies because it puts them in a one-down position. They grew up tone for ways to put others down by criticizing and pushing themselves on top . So for a woman to engage in a compliment exchange with a man by taking the one down position, would find that he will not likely pull her up but rather pull her down further and provide an advice or criticism .This significant characteristic style can put women at a disadvantage in a workplace situation and be judged as lacking in confidence. It is therefore vital for people in management positions to understand the diverse communicatory style of both men an d women in order to take full advantage of talented staff. There is no one right way to communicate as communication depends on the situation, the culture and linguistic style of the people.