Powerful/powerless language use in group interactions: Sex differences or similarities?

This paper examines sex differences in powerful/powerless language (interruptions, disclaimers, hedges, and tag questions) in the small group context by juxtaposing two competing theoretical frameworks. A test of five contrasting hypotheses revealed little support for the dominant “dual cultures”; approach for investigating sex differences (i.e., men will use more powerful language while women will employ more powerless language). Instead results were much more supportive of a “gender similarities”; approach to understanding sex differences, showing no significant differences between women and men in their use of interruptions, hedges, and tag questions. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed for research on sex differences, powerful/ powerless language use, and small group communication.

Key concepts:

• Powerful/powerless language
• sex differences
• group interaction
• interruptions
• disclaimers
• hedges
• tag‐questions