Debunking the Gendered Feature of Tag Questions

Debunking the Gendered Feature of Tag Questions

By: Carolina Vargas

Objective

Discuss the common misconceptions around gendered tag questions as well as practice using the different kinds of tag questions.

In a conversation, women are more likely to use tag questions that signal uncertainty.

Is that really true?

What are Tag Questions?

• A yes-no question that is added to the end of a statement.

• An English tag contains an auxiliary verb and a pronoun that agrees with the subject

• Example: We should leave early, shouldn't we?

• Example: This seems easy, doesn't it?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are examples of tag questions?

• You didn't get much sleep last night, didn't you?

• Did you get enough sleep last night?

• You should get more sleep tonight, okay?

• You haven't been getting enough sleep, haven't you?

Lakoff says: "A tag question […] is used when the speaker is stating a claim, but lacks full confidence in the truth of that claim.” (Reprinted in Lakoff (2004), p. 48)

Lakoff argues that women do this more often than men.

Issues with Lakoff's arguement

• There are other functions that tag questions can possess than just signal uncertainty.

• She assigns this specific function as the only function that women use.

• Other empirical studies showed conflicting results in the use of tag questions between women and men.

Types of Tags

• Epistemic Modal Tags- indicate uncertainty; seeks confirmation from the addressee

• Facilitative Tags- indicate discussion; invites the addressee to contribute to the conversation

• Softening Tags- alleviate some of the negative impact from the evaluative comment 

• Challenging Tags- elicit silence or an admission of guilt

Conclusion

A study performed by Cameron et al. (1988) looked at tags used in asymmetric relationships- so power dynamics are at play.

Ex: teacher-student, Employer-employee, or doctor-patient

They found that epistemic modal tags are more likely used by the "powerless" individuals, while facilitative or softening tags were more generally used by the "powerful" individuals.

Multiple Choice

What Kind of Tag Question is this?

A. "Linguistics is the study of language and its structure, isn't it?"

B. "Yes, it is."

• Softening

• Epistemic Modal

• Challenging

• Facilitative

Multiple Choice

What Kind of Tag Question is this?

A & B are having a conversation about Europe & C isn't in the conversation.

A to C. "Sally you've been to Europe before, haven't you?"

C. "Yes, I have! It is so beautiful there."

• Epistemic Modal

• Challenging

• Softening

• Facilitative

Multiple Choice

What Kind of Tag Question is this?

A. "You forgot mom's birthday again, didn't you?

B. "Yeah..."

C. "Well, that's okay. You can still send her a card and gift, even if it's a little late."

• Softening

• Facilitative

• Epistemic Modal

• Challenging

Multiple Choice

What Kind of Tag Question is this?

A. "You won't ever steal my bike again, won't you?!"

B. "No! I promise I won't ever do that again!"

• Facilitative

• Softening

• Challenging

• Epistemic modal

Thanks for Listening!