Language and Gender at Workplace: Speech Differences among Mostaganem University Tea

Abstract

The present research work is an attempt to explore gender speech differences at workplace in particular. In addition, it attempts to figure out how men and women communicate and use language differently. Therefore, the present research tends to prove that gender is not only the sociolinguistic variable that has an effect on the genders’ communication but also there are other social factors. In order to analyze teachers’ ways of using language during the work, the researcher opted for university teachers to be the target Community of practice (CoP). A questionnaire was administered to twenty (20) university teachers working at Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University, Mostaganem (ten males and ten females). The findings have showed that female teachers tend to use more interruptions, directives and louder voice at workplace. Besides, the attitudes of speakers depend largely on gender; the manners male and female teachers act and use through language reflect the teachers’ beliefs and opinions about gender differences at workplace.