The Features of Mens Language
Coates 2003 investigated conversation among groups of men with different ages and belonging to different social classes, however they have commonalities in which gender is
constructed. The conversation involved only male gender. She indentifies four of the characteristics of mens language:
1. Stereotypically Masculine Topics. When two or more men gather and start to conversation, their topic is not far from
masculinity, such as: dealing with cars, modern technology, drinking, and travel. Might be they also talk about some business. The masculine topics are usually talks about general
topic. 2. Men Only.
In the conversation between men and men, there would be only men. The topic in conversation might be about their life story, how good another man in achieving something to
be natural mens conversation. The absence of women and other womens related matter is highlighted as a disturbing aspect of hegemonic masculinity in that maintains an ideology
where men are all important and women are all invisible. 3. Great Attention on Detail.
Coates said that men had a propensity to pay attention to detail in their conversation. A story of man struggling to get away from two bad guys will be a lot more than just
punching, kicking, stabbing or else, but short of explaining the whole detail of place, smell and atmosphere of the scene.
4. Elaborate to Use of Taboo Words.
The folk linguistic believe that men swear more than women and use more taboo words is widespread. It is heard masculine to use taboo words. These words seem to be
created for men to use, and only men. However, the usage of taboo words in particular drops dramatically in mix sex conversation.
Based in Coates, the characteristics all intended to accomplish dominant value of masculinity, which include emotional restrain, ambition, achievement and competitiveness.
Coates explains how sometimes alternative masculinities expressing, for example: vulnerability are voiced, but these are silenced by peer pressure. She also argued that
hegemonic masculine discourses are homophonic and misogynistic and tend to avoid self- disclosure.