Gender differences in constructed dialogues using Filipino

• Main Author: Mojica, Leonisa A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Sex differences; Language and languages; Dialogues; Linguistics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/877
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study sought to investigate if differences existed in females' and males' use of written Filipino in terms of the following linguistic features: codeswitching, descriptive lexical items (DLI), taboo words, euphemisms, tag questions, and non-inclusive language. Another aspect investigated was the possible correlation between the linguistic features mentioned and any of the following variables: age, socioeconomic status, types of materials read, TV programs watched, and language use with the family, friends, and persons of authority. Lastly, the study investigated how female/male language in written Filipino was described by the respondents. Respondents totaling 180 came from freshman and junior classes of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the University of the Philippines (UP), Manila, with each school and gender being equally represented. These students were categorized as writer-participants and reader-participants. The writer participants were asked to write dialogues based on contrived situations. The reader-participants' tasks were to read the 10 dialogues picked at random by the researcher, guess the gender of each of the writers of the 10 dialogues, and give reasons for their choice. Statistical tools used were ANOVA, t-test, Two-Way Repeated Measures Design, and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation. Findings show that the students sampled differed significantly in their employment of codeswitching, taboo words, and non-inclusive language. Females surpassed the males in employing codeswitches while males surpassed the females in their employment of prohibited terms like taboo words and non-inclusive language. In general both groups of respondents assigned more of the linguistic devices investigated to characters of their respective sex. As regards finding what variables would correlate with each other, age and sex were found not to have any significant correlation with the respondents' employment of each linguistic device. Significant correlations were noted on the respondents' language use, as well as media preferences, and their employment of certain linguistic devices. Female language was perceived to be the opposite of male speech. Whereas female language was regarded as gentle, affected, and wordy, male talk was perceived to be harsh, direct, and brief. Vulgarity was associated with male speech and gay language, while Taglish and gossip were attributed to female talk. The researcher concluded that differences in male and female language use of Filipino do exist and that these differences can be regarded in a positive light. Another conclusion is that the kind of language used is dictated by role relationships, not by the sex or gender of the user. One major observation, too, is the presence of some sexist elements in the Filipino language as evidenced by the respondents' assigning of this type of language to both their female and male characters in certain situations.