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Duels and Duets: Why Men and Women Talk So Differently by John L Locke (view source)
Revision as of 10:40, 12 September 2011
, 10:40, 12 September 2011no edit summary
Back at the main event: it isn't possible to start arguing a case for why we speak differently without first looking at what those differences are.
Men duel. When I first mentioned the book to my boyfriend, before I'd managed more than a couple of sentences he chipped in with: ""''of course. When a man is talking to another man, or among other men, everything is about making himself look better. Playing up your own strengths or putting them down. Always."" ''
From the horse's mouth you might say, as this is precisely the line of argument Locke produces. He takes us through the historical evidence of this from the ritualised settings of the Old English/Celtic flyting and the Icelandic mannjafnadr through to the modern ""''Yo mama"" '' Soundings or Dozens played by the black inner city youth of North America today. The rules have not changed.
Ritualised insulting served and continues to serve many purposes. It's not just about bolstering your own ego. It is used to cement friendships. Laced with humour, an insult is a common greeting between male buddies, in a way that just doesn't occur between girl friends.