GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SPOKEN ENGLISH: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC INVESTIGATION OF INTERACTIONAL STYLES

This article explores gender-based differences in spoken English, focusing on interactional patterns, discourse markers, and pragmatic strategies. Drawing on sociolinguistic theory and previous research by Lakoff (1975), Tannen (1990), and Holmes (1995), the study examines how male and female speakers differ in their use of language across various social contexts. Using recorded conversations from university seminars, interviews, and informal dialogues, this study analyzes turn-taking, politeness strategies, and topic control. Findings suggest that while stereotypical gendered speech patterns are present, they are highly context-dependent and influenced by social roles rather than biological sex alone. The study contributes to ongoing debates in discourse and gender studies by emphasizing the role of power, setting, and identity in shaping language use