According to the American linguist, Deborah Tannen, communication habits vary depending on individual personality, culture, and among other factors, gender(性别). Since male ways of communicating are standard in business, women’s ways of talking are often ignored or misunderstood in the workplace. Tannen emphasizes that female and male style. are both valid(有效的). Here are some of Tannen’s main points:

Conversational styles in boys and girls show up(显现)early. Even 5-year-old boys care about their ranks in the group, while 5-year-old girls care more about being in or out of the group. Therefore, men’s conversational styles often use competition(竞争), while women try to keep the appearance of equality(平等).

Women tend to apologize more than men, as an attempt(试图)to restore(恢复)the power balance (权力平衡) in conversation. When men simply accept the apology rather than part of the responsibility, women feel unjustly (不公正地)blameD.Western women favor indirect ways of speaking, which is interpreted(理解)by Western men as showing insecurity(局促不安) and lack of confidence(缺乏自信). However, this gender difference is also a cultural difference: Japanese business culture demands indirectness, and direct approach used by Western businessmen is often seen as rude by the Japanese.

1. Communication habits vary depending on individual personality, culture and diet.()

A.True

B.False

2. Business people normally act according to how men communicate with each other.()

A.True

B.False

3. Kids are concerned about similar things when they are about 5.()

A.True

B.False

4. Women tend to feel that it is not fair to be blamed when men don’t think they are also responsible for certain thing.()

A.True

B.False

5. Women in the west like indirect ways of speaking, which is taken by men as confident.()

A.True

B.False