Other differences can be the variations in regional speech or matters of usage Frank and Anshen, 1983:25. The variations in regional speech show the
different sound when speaking. Women have high-pitched voices, speak rapidly, and sound emotional. Men have deep and resonant voices, and speak slowly.
Matters of usage show politeness and grammatical form in conversation. It shows that women’s speech is likely more polite and more grammatical than men’s
speech. Other styles can also be
found in women and men’s conversation. Those styles can be in a form of topic, swear word or taboo language, gossip,
interruption, and back-channel response. The description of each style can be seen in the following details.
a. Topic
This style shows that people create conversation by choosing any topic. Frank and Anshen 1983:31 states that conversation is talking about something and
needs topics to discuss. In this sense, topic deals with “the subject matter of conversation, to what the conversation
is about” Haas, 1979:619. In conversation, people might select a certain topic to introduce, develop, or
change the topic Richards, 1980:423. Men and women might also have differences in selecting topic. Coates 2004:128 explains that women and men
certainly discuss different topics. Women’s topic is about people and feeling,
while men’s topics are current issues, travel, and sport. The topics created might not always be successful to be discussed in
conversation. Fishman’s research 1983, quoted in Frank and Anshen 1983:31,
shows the failure of the topics found in conversation. She finds that women have PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
many topics, but several topics failed. On the other hand, men’s topics are successful, although some are the same as women’s topics that have failed.
Topic failure is actually caused by the failure to respond. To react to such situation, using questions becomes one of the strategies. Question forms need a
response from the other person in conversation, so the topics can last longer Frank and Anshen, 1983:31.
b. Swear Word or Taboo Language
Swearing or expressing taboo language shows rude words and impoliteness. Trudgill 1977:29 considers swear word or taboo language as improper behavior.
This relates to the unsaid things and unused words or expressions, such as Fuck, Damn it, and others.
Most men express swear words showing their anger. It is emphasized that “the folklinguistic belief that men swear more than women and use more taboo
words is widespread ” Coates, 2004:97 Moreover, Trudgill 1977:90 states that
using taboo words and swear words is acceptable for men. On the other hand, women have an “instinctive shrinking from coarse and gross expressions and a
preference for refined and in certain sphere veiled and indirect expressions ”
Jespersen, 1922:246. It can be understood that w omen’s characteristic is polite
and differs from men’s. One of the examples is the use of dear and shit in a conversation. Lakoff and
Bucholtz 2004:44 give details that the expression Oh dear, you’ve put the peanut butter in the refrigerator again is as
women’s language and polite expressions. Meanwhile, Shit, you’ve put the peanut butter in the refrigerator
