Identifying Gender-Based Language through Analysis of Social Interaction in the Film Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Abstract

Identifying Gender-Based Language through Analysis of Social Interaction in the Film Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The study delves into the analysis of women's language features in the movie "Pride and Prejudice," focusing on the main characters' dialogue. It identifies and examines intensifiers, tag questions, super polite form, lexical hedges, and rising intonations as key features used in the interactions, shedding light on women's speech in diverse contexts. The research aims to uncover the types of women's speech features present in the film and how they are employed by female and male characters. By exploring gender-based language through the lens of Lakoff's theory, the study provides valuable insights for sociolinguistics scholars and students, serving as a springboard for future investigations into women's language practices. The theoretical framework encompasses discussions on language and gender, women's language, Lakoff's hypothesis on women's speech features, and illustrative examples of linguistic features identified by Lakoff. The findings reveal the varied use of women's language by characters in "Pride and Prejudice," with the female character employing six types of women's speech features compared to the male character's use of two types. The study suggests the need for further exploration of women's speech features in real-life conversations, emphasizing the potential for analyzing women's language from an Islamic perspective, particularly in examining women in influential societal roles.
Keywords: Gender-based language, Robin Lakoff, Pride and Prejudice