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characteristics found were Strategy in order to control the conversation, Minimal response, Commands, and Questions asked.
1. Strategy in order to control the conversation
From the data, there were occurrences where male participants applied the „strategy to
control the conversation‟. Below is an example of that strategy:
Figure 2. Example 1 of Strategy in control the conversation
From the excerpt above, the topic of the discussion was about what is the point of Israel attacking Gaza. However, the response given by the male speaker was not answering the
question proposed by the female speaker, but then asking the forum what is the point of Gaza attacking Israel. This turning point practiced by the male sp
eaker considered as „strategy to control the conversation‟ in order to maintain the conversation also an effort to keep the forum‟s
interest.
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Another example of „strategy to control the conversation‟ found is:
Figure 3. Example 2 of Strategy in control the conversation
In this second example, as the topic of the discussion was about why Israel attacking Gaza, and their opinions towards the topic that they discussed in the forum. However, from the
response given, the male did not answer the question asked by the previous speaker, but continuing by saying that it was a good question why Gaza attacking Israel. Then, the male
speaker also tried to maintain the forum‟s interest by using exclamation point. This example is
considered as „strategy to control the conversation‟ as the male speaker maintained and even developed the conversation farther.
Strategy in order to control a conversation is categorized as a characteristic of male register. Based on a study by Karlsson 2007, in a conversation, men tend to control the
conversation by using this more than women do. As men are believed to hold higher status than women do in a society, men usually dominate in controlling a conversation Tannen, 1994. In a
conversation, one of the strategies used by male to control the conversation over the women is by remaining silent and changing the topic, instead of answering the question asked by women
Karlsson, 2007. From the findings, this characteristic could be found in several occasions.
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2. Minimal Response
