Biff Tannen

Callie, my best friend said she was going to visit her father. She walks up to the door and is about the ring the doorbell when she notices that the door is cracked open. Why is it open? she asks herself. She pushes open the door slowly.     “Dad?” she called. She starts to head up the stairs when she hears her dad.     “Callie?” Carter yells back. “I didn’t know you were coming. What a surprise.”     “So good to see you. Why was the door cracked open?” Callie asked.     “I don’t know,” Carter

individuals (Tannen 327). There are thousands of diverse languages to speak to one another with, in fact that means there are thousands of different ways to offend each other with our words. Within those languages there are several contrasting gestures that can offend any single person, such as the amount of times individuals apologize in one meeting, giving criticism too harshly, or thanking someone so often it does not seem genuine. In the article “What Do You Mean,” Deborah Tannen touches upon

communication style, whether in a formal or informal setting. Linguistic style, as defined by Deborah Tannen, refers to a person’s characteristic speaking pattern. Men tend to be more direct and dominating, whereas, women exhibit a more practical and indirect approach. Although these conclusions are generalizations, research has proven that they are typical of the ordinary man and woman (Tannen, 1995). Criticism Criticism is a major issue that is unavoidable, but handled very differently by the

What I Meant was… In Deborah Tannen’s article, “But What Do You Mean?” she enumerates seven different ways that women and men tend to have a kind of struggle. Tannen discusses how the men and women have different ways of speaking. The seven main differences are classified and divided into: apologies, criticism, thank-yous, fighting, praise, complaints, and jokes. First, men don’t correctly interpret apologies; they often implicate blame with apology, synonymous with putting oneself down. On the

women think and interact. In Deborah Tannen’s essay, “But What Do You Mean?,” Tannen identifies the seven primary differences in which men and women interact. Of the seven differences between women and men interactions than Tannen points out, the most notable ones that I have seen to be true are apologies, jokes, and criticism. Apologizing is, from what I have seen growing up, probably the most misunderstood. Tannen points out in her essay that women use the term “I’m sorry” as a way for both parties

involvement of debate. “The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue” presents a whole new way of thinking that could be helpful for a new UCONN student. It focuses on how negative approaches to debate is not the way to go. Quickly Tannen discusses how at the beginning of our early life, we are all taught, sometimes inadvertently, that we should not have to bring down other people's ideas to bring up our own. Following this, she teaches a tactic to regulate our approach on how we think

proper base can also cause media and news reporters to “create” or find another opposing view to create conflict as to make their own article a more interesting read. This is where false reports of the Holocaust never happening come in, and Deborah Tannen explains that even with numerous evidence and facts to prove that this horrendous event did conspire, even living witnesses, the news and media still give attention to these ludicrous statements as to gather a rise of emotion out of the reader or

in the Intimate Relationship: His and Hers” by Deborah Tannen, you will begin to see and discover the differences in conversation between men and women. Discussed throughout this paper are the importance of metamessages, an overview of Tannen’s article, whether Tannen is fair in her article toward both men and women and whether I agree with Tannen’s article as well as experiences of my peer’s and myself. Part 1: Metamessages Deborah Tannen defines metamessages as a way you want to be understood

Analysis of You Just Don't Understand, Men and Women in Conversation by Deborah Tannen In the first chapter of her book, You Just Don't Understand, Men and Women in Conversation, Deborah Tannen quotes, "...studies have shown that married couples that live together spend less than half an hour a week talking to each other...". (24) This book is a wonderful tool for couples to use for help in understanding each other. The two things it stresses most is to listen, and to make yourself heard

A Move towards Better Communication Deborah Tannen graduated from The University of California, Berkely, M.A. in 1979 with her PHD in Linguistics. She is a professor of linguistics at Georgetown University. Tannen has written many books where she applies her theory of Linguistics to everyday situations. Some of her books are: That’s Not What I Meant!: How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Relationship (1986), Talking from 9 to 5: How Women’s and Men’s Conversational