“Language and gender” is written in a very appealing and informal way. In fact, this is quite suitable for the target readers, students, as well as other categories because it is simple and attractive. The whole book is written in a practical(use a more specific word) way that invigorates the mind. It analyzes every point step by step starting with defining it to giving examples from real life. Furthermore, it is full of maps and activities that help in illustrating the point as well as making it easier to understand. For example, in Unit one, the main subject was(is) that language is not a neutral reflection of the world but “by using language, we project onto the world our own sense of ‘reality’.” Throughout the whole unit the writer tries to prove this point of view by analyzing it and giving examples from the real world. First, he proved that different languages encode objects and ideas differently. One of the examples he gave is that in English, there is 11 basic words for colors whereas speakers of some New Guinea Highland languages have two terms only: dark and light. Then from this point, he moved to prove that we project humanness and gender onto the inanimate and animal worlds. The writer believes that “human beings are essentially very lonely and insecure creatures. For it seems that we need to constantly project the idea of humanness onto the inanimate world.” Thus “we make cartoons for children where objects like brooms and spoons talk and sing.” This reason is invalid. In fact it is quite the opposite. This shows the superiority of human beings over all other kinds: everything has to look like us. In addition, people like what is familiar to them not necessarily because they are insecure and lonely but because they want to draw themselves closer to other beings in an attempt to understand them. That is why cartoons have objects singing and talking. It is an attempt to make the children understand the world around them and at the same time it attracts them by showing them something familiar. Finally the writer succeeded in producing an interesting, funny book that attracts everyone who reads it.
COMMENTS: Very good and to the point.
3 comments:
Angela Goddard and Lindsey Mean Patterson use informal language in their book. They achieve this informal style through many techniques. Firstly, they use both first and second person narration. For example, before the beginning f every unit, they talk about its aim using first person narration and pronouns such as we and you. In unit one, “projections”, they provide its aim saying: “the aim of this unit is to get you thinking about the relationship between the language we use and the world around us… we need to establish how far our ideas about the sexes are the result of seeing what we want to see –or, seeing what we have to see because of the language that is available to us.” Then in establishing the aim of unit two, “Making up gender”, they say: “in this unit, we will be looking at the qualities and characteristics we associate with men and women.” This first person narration is not only used in describing the aim of each unit but is also applied throughout the book. For example, when talking about stereotyping and how our minds categorize objects and people into groups, they say: “as well as categorizing objects, we also categorize people into groups where some group members are seen as more typical or representatives than other… when we construct a simplified and limited model from the characteristics of a few group members and apply these to the whole group, what we are doing is stereotyping.”
The second method is their choice of activities and extracts. They tend to use extracts that are written in everyday conversation and are not complicated or need highly educated people to understand. Thus, most of their extracts are advertisements from newspapers or catalogues, radio programs and even Jak cartoon. They even sometimes make the reader participate in the activity by asking him questions about it. For example, in talking about socialization and how our society affect us greatly and help in forming our identity, they bring “image from the toy sections of some popular Christmas catalogues form 1997.” They even ask the reader to answer some questions as “what sex roles are being portrayed? Look at the names and nature of the products: what are the connotations? What skills would be learned by the children who played with these toys?” another example is when they talked about human shape.” They believe that “natural history programmes are useful sources of evidence for investigating anthropomorphism and, within this, projections of gender.” So, they provide “an extract from the Radio 4 Natural History Programme, 7 December 1997. The presenter (A) travels to remote Scottish island called North Rona to meet a researcher (B) who is studying grey seals. Each activity or extract is followed by a commentary from the writers which further facilitates it and makes it easier on the reader to understand.
Finally, sometimes they use proverbs and even jokes in explaining their theories. For example, in defining the difference between the terms man, male, and masculine, they say: “while the terms ‘man’ and ‘woman’ can refer to definitions based on biological differences, the terms ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ are always about expected gender characteristics – what men and women are supposed to be like. The ‘ine’ ending itself means ‘like’, as in ‘bovine’ (like a cow), ‘vulpine’ (like a wolf), ‘geraldine’ (like a Gerald). (No, the last example wasn’t a mistake.)” As for the proverbs, they used an activity full of ones. “I can’t get my brain into gear, I’m only firing on two cylinders… my memory is full” and “I’m in active mood today, I need to switch off for a minute.”
These techniques draw the attention of the reader because both Angela Goddard and Lindsey Mean Patterson identify themselves with him. So he does not feel that he is being taught or instructed by a superior person. Consequently, he feels comfortable and even engaged in the book. Since the book is aimed at students, this is very appropriate. Thus, both writers were successful in producing a quite informative book and at the same time appealing and interesting. It is a book appropriate for all kinds of readers starting form students to teachers because though it is informal, it is not too idiomatic or colloquial.
hi dr khaled
i've noticed that you made some changes in the quotation i took from the book should i leave it as is or make the corrections
LEAVE quotes as is. However, make sure you don't have any typing mistakes.
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