Chatter, Natter, Prattle, Gossip, Nag, Whine . . . (Press, 10 August 1981)

On 10 August 1981, an article by Sally Adams in London discussed the findings of Australian feminist linguist Dale Spender, who argues that men dominate in language usage, both in frequency and in interruptions during conversations with women. Spender asserts that men talk more than women and interrupt them more often, contrary to common beliefs. She has documented her findings through extensive research, which includes numerous tape recordings. Spender’s work has been met with resistance from her male colleagues, who often dismiss her insights as irrelevant or even suggest that she should be searched for recording devices during meetings, though she insists their comments are serious. She describes herself as persistent and unyielding, and uses derogatory remarks aimed at her as motivation to continue her advocacy for women's voices in discourse. At 37 years old, Spender defines herself as a feminist who still adheres to certain traditional roles, such as cooking breakfast for her partner of six years, though she refuses to let society's expectations manipulate her behaviour. With a plethora of qualifications, she teaches women's studies at the University of London, edits "Women's Studies International Quarterly," and is the author of several books, including her latest, "Man Made Language." In her writings, Spender highlights the gender biases embedded in language, illustrating how terms used for women often carry negative connotations compared to their male equivalents. She points out that words associated with women, such as 'mistress' or 'dame', often imply a sexual context, while male titles remain neutral or respectful. She criticises the absence of language that captures women's unique experiences and the pervasive default usage of male terms to represent humanity, such as using 'he' to denote mankind, which inherently excludes women. Furthermore, Spender raises concerns about the way psychological definitions are constructed, suggesting that they perpetuate negative stereotypes about femininity and trivialize women's experiences. She notes that impotence is often characterised as a failure caused by women, while frigidity is seen as a deficiency in women themselves. Spender's research emphasizes that linguistics has been dominated by male perspectives that have historically silenced women. She argues for a language that authentically represents women's power, autonomy, and strength, challenging the belief that women's speech is inferior. Spender's vision is for a future where the language evolves to reflect the realities of women's experiences, thus reducing their status as a muted group in society.

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