“My wife doesn’t understand me!”

 

"My husband and I don't speak the same language"

It's official . . . men and women do speak different languages!

“My husband and I don’t speak the same language”

Does it sound familiar to you?

You think that we’re talking about learning English, don’t you? 

You’re wrong!

It’s been confirmed – men and women do speak different languages!

There is a difference in the way men and women talk to each other.  And, as in any relationship between husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, this argument has been going on for years.

So, if you are a learn English student and your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend doesn’t understand you, then it has nothing to do with your ability to speak English.

Gentlemen, time to listen . . .

There are suggestions that men tend to interrupt women more when in conversation.

And women?

Researchers argue that women exercise more politeness than men and interrupt them less. 

Read on, the interesting part is about to come . . .

In the world of work and business, let’s use a Business English setting for example, it has been suggested that men use ‘interruption’ as a device to dominant and control interaction.  And, interestingly, there is evidence to suggest that women do not object to this as they like to ask more questions. 

Also, women are inclined to use ‘you’ and ‘we’ to develop interpersonal relationships, share confidences and nurture intimate feelings through speaking – before you ask . . . ‘yes’, it is a woman writing this article, and ‘yes’ I do use ‘you’ and ‘we’ frequently!

Enough about the ladies, back to the gentlemen . . .

It is argued that men use strategies to challenge, dispute and ignore.  They tend to make statements and control topics being discussed – all very interesting for our learn English students thinking about studying Business English.

And do we allow our Business English students to be introduced unarmed to the male-female workplace power relations?

No.  We train our Business English students to identify the clues and detect the language-gender signs and what the nuances mean in verbal and non-verbal communication.

We teach decorum and diplomacy in Business English.

More importantly . . .

To stay out of the boxing ring!

This entry was posted in Learn English Articles. Bookmark the permalink.