Does Men Really Talk More Than Women? Generally, People Thin

Does man really talk much than women? Generally, people think that woman always talk much than man. But Janet Holmes who is professor of sociolinguistics from university of wellington thinks that man actually talks much than women. She believes that it is just wide perception that people make that women generally talk too much but in real sense, it is men who talk too much. She uses many claims in her essay ‘women talk too much’ tries to prove that man always dominate the talking time.

Janet Holmes, a professor of sociolinguistics at the University of Wellington, challenges the common perception that women talk more than men. Her article "Women Talk Too Much" suggests that, contrary to popular belief, men are the ones who tend to dominate conversations and talk more than women. Holmes endeavors to substantiate her argument through various claims and available evidence, yet her essay falls short of being convincingly persuasive due to limitations in her evidence and reasoning.

Holmes begins by asserting that "despite the widespread belief that women talk more than men, most of the available evidence suggests just the opposite" (Holmes, 300). She cites research findings from two Canadian researchers who analyzed 63 studies on gendered communication. Her claim that women only talk more than men in two of these studies implies that, statistically, men generally talk more. However, this evidence lacks authority as Holmes does not specify the background, credentials, or research methodology of these Canadian researchers. Without establishing research credibility, such evidence is weak and less persuasive in academic discourse. The sample size, though seemingly substantial, may still be insufficient to definitively prove broad claims about gendered communication patterns, especially if the studies differ significantly in scope or context.

Furthermore, Holmes references a study from New Zealand, where a British company hired four women and four men for high-ranking positions. The company's managing director observed that men often patronized and dominated meetings, suggesting male dominance in talk time (Holmes, 301). Nonetheless, this evidence is limited in scope. An observation from a single company's management meetings, especially based on a remark from a managing director, cannot be generalized to broader populations or across different social settings. Such anecdotal evidence does not constitute rigorous scientific proof and thus diminishes the strength of her argument.

Holmes's reliance on diverse but limited sources portrays a neutral tone and a diversity of evidence, which initially appears to bolster her credibility. She mentions research from Canada, New Zealand, and a private company's observation, aiming to demonstrate consistency across different environments and cultures. While this diversity may suggest an overarching trend, the evidence remains superficial without detailed data analysis, sample sizes, or peer-reviewed research validation.

In the conclusion, Holmes complicates her initial stance by stating, "We have now reached the conclusion that the question ‘Do women talk more than men?’ can’t be answered with a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’" (Holmes, 304). She argues that the issue depends on context and perception, implying that the question is too simplistic to be definitively answered. This concession appears to weaken her earlier claims and leaves her argument somewhat ambiguous. Instead of providing a clear, conclusive statement, Holmes ends with a remark about the influence of conversational dominance and context, which may confuse readers and undermine the clarity of her position.

Despite these shortcomings, Holmes employs a neutral and gentle tone throughout her essay. Her use of evidence from multiple locations and scenarios demonstrates her attempt at balanced reporting. However, her tone cannot compensate for the inadequacy of her evidence and the lack of rigorous data analysis. Her argument hinges on broad claims without sufficient empirical support, which diminishes its persuasiveness.

Holmes’s summarization emphasizes that both genders' speech patterns are shaped by environmental factors, and her conclusion indicates that the debate over which gender talks more may forever remain unresolved due to the complexity and contextual nature of communication. Nonetheless, her failure to present compelling and comprehensive evidence weakens her overall thesis. To strengthen her argument, she would need to incorporate more authoritative research, quantitative data, and peer-reviewed studies that provide clear, statistically significant results.

In academic discourse, persuasive writing relies heavily on the credibility of sources and the strength of evidence. Holmes's attempt to challenge common stereotypes about gendered communication is positive but insufficiently supported. Her reliance on limited case studies and anecdotal data highlights the importance of rigorous research and the necessity for more robust empirical evidence to draw definitive conclusions about gender differences in talkativeness. Without such evidence, her claims remain anecdotal and unconvincing, leaving the core question—whether men or women talk more—largely unresolved.

References

• Holmes, Janet. “Women Talk Too Much.” Exploring Language, edited by Gary Goshgarian, 11th ed., Longman, 2007, pp. 300-304.
• Lakoff, Robin. “Language and Woman's Place.” Language in Society, vol. 2, no. 4, 1973, pp. 45–80.
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• Graddol, David, and Janet Holmes. “Gender and Discourse.” In Language, Gender and Society, edited by Jennifer Coates, Blackwell Publishing, 1996, pp. 132–150.
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