The study on the speech styles in the Malaysian context: a case study on radio and television presenters / Angelina Subrayan @ Michael and Liaw Shun Chone.

This study was undertaken to find out whether women and men speak differently in the usage of the English Language. Four samples of conversation from Malaysian male and female television and radio presenters were recorded, transcribed and examined. Seven particular linguistic devices were taken for observation and they were analyzed for frequency counts to identify whether the variables used denote unassertiveness. The linguistic devices were the use of questions, fillers, intensifiers, adjectives, hedges, verbosity and affirmatives.
The major finding of this study can be classified as follows: Firstly, hesitancy and unassertiveness are not only women’s language. These features appeared in men’s language as well. Secondly, the speech styles of the speakers depend on the individuals, and not on the gender of the speakers. Indirectly, this study does not provide support to the claim made by American linguist Robin Lakoff that women’s
language is ‘powerless’.