Male and Female Register in CMC

Marschall Eirence Metekohy

Satya Wacana Christian University

Abstract

The different social values men and women hold lead to the different ways
men and women communicate in the society. Studies suggest that female register
(Lakoff, 1973) is different from male register (Karlsson, 2007). Halliday (1998)
proposes that a register is determined by the Tenor, Field, and Mode of the
interactions. Furthermore, human communication has evolved since the era of the
internet and Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) has become a new mode
in communication. Therefore since language is dynamic, the language used by
men and women might evolve as well. This study was aimed at investigating the
male and female register in CMC. In the attempt to accomplish the objective of
this study, 30 members of online discussion forum participated. The language
they used in the discussion in the forum was analyzed. The result indicated that
most of the features of the male and female register from previous studies were
observed. However, not all the characteristics of male and female register were
found in the conversations. Moreover, it was also observed that there were
occurrences of cross-gender register. This study suggested that due to the different
nature of CMC communication, the features of male and female register might be
different from the Lakoff‟s (1973) hypothesis.

Keywords: Male Register, Female Register, CMC

Introduction

Men and women are two genders of human being which have massive differences. Both men

and women have masculinity and femininity. According to Connell‟s (1995), as cited in Eckert

and McConnell-Ginet, (2003) The meaning of „true masculinity‟ is emphasizing not as the

object, but on the characteristic of a person. Furthermore, these two aspects, both masculinity

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and femininity have impacts on how men and women communicate in their daily life which

unconsciously take a massive part in the language use. Thus, there could be misunderstanding

and miscommunication in a conversation between men and women which caused by the

masculinity and femininity.

The miscommunication and misunderstanding is a common thing between men and

women in a conversation, because of the factors mentioned above which cause the differences in

language use. Thus, the meanings sometimes are not delivered to the receiver. These differences

are summarized by Lakoff (1973, as cited in Crosby and Nyquist, 1977) that males‟ language

considered more adult and assertive, while females‟ language is hyper-polite and commonly non-

assertive. Leaper and Robnett (2011) further adds that women tend to use tentative language.

Tentative language is language that does not make absolute certainties. These differences may be

interpreted by the opposite sex in unintended ways. For better communication, Gray (1992)

argues that women and men must understand these differences and learn to communicate as

Martian and Venusian.

Furthermore, the differences in language used might be caused by the society, the

surroundings they belong to. Correspondingly, another factor which may cause the language

used by both men and women is the social status, such as the roles they hold in their society.

Men communicate in an assertive manner because they hold the dominant position in the social

hierarchy. In contrast, women communicate in a more tentative and polite manner because they

occupy the subordinate position in the social hierarchy” (Lakoff, 1973, as cited in Leaper and

Robnett 2011).

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 Since the era of the internet, communication not only occurs in Face to Face

Communication (FtF), but also in online communication. The existence of the internet since the

era of 1990‟s, has become a medium for communication. Moreover, along with the technology

developing nowadays, people can communicate anywhere and anytime as there are gadgets

which provide access to online communication. The use of Internet for daily communication has

argued that the development and spread of Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and will

continue to shape our language use (Van Gass, 2008). CMC is considered as a new mode in

communication, incorporating the features of both speaking and writing.

This study explored gender and language use in first language in CMC environment. As

the technology has developed and a new mode of communication has evolved. The way males

and females communicate might have also evolved. Hence, this research was conducted to find

out how females and males use language in Computer-mediated Communication (CMC). The

research question for this study was, “What are the male and female register in CMC?”

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Register

Language is an emotion produced inside the brain and has three supporting components

which similar to how sensory nerve, motor nerve and intermediate nerve work by taking an

important part in seeding, receiving, and delivering the message to each other and believed as the

greatest achievements ever invented of all time since the era of Greece‟s great philosophers. In

saying such sentences, some matters could possibly showed up because the meaning delivered by

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the speaker and the message received by the listener are mixed up (Searle, 1969). Also one of the

factors which make the message received becomes blurred is the dilemma between the thought

of “did he say what he/she means?”

The variety of language chosen in a making a conversation also called as register. Thus, a

register also used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting. A study conducted by

Halliday (1989) divided three categories that determine a register, such as:

1. Field

This first category, according to Halliday (1989), is a category about what language is

being used to talk about. The field includes two elements which are the topic and the interactants.

The topic of discourse can be specialized or technical topic, for example language used when

talking about environment. Besides, it could also be everyday topic, for example when the

language is used to talk about shopping, or another daily life conversation. On the other hand, the

affecting element in this first category which is the interectants, would determine a language

used when the interactants have specialized knowledge, for example when a scientist is writing

for an article for an academic journal. Also, it might affect a register when the interactants have

common knowledge of the field, for example when the interactants is talking about an article in a

newspaper.

Halliday (1989) further claimed that „the field‟ determines the use of specialized

language, whether technical terms or everyday terms are used. Thus, it is important for a speaker

to think and consider about the listener, which may be specialized or common knowledge

listener.

2. Tenor

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 Tenor is the role of the relationship between interactants. Halliday (1989) stated that the

relationship between the interactants varies according to status (ranging from unequal as in the

case of a boss/ employee to equal as with friends), affective involvement (ranging from high as

with friends/family to low as with business clients), and contact (ranging from frequent to

occasional). Hence, through this second category, the formality of language used is influenced by

the relationship between interactants.

3. Mode

The third category that determines register is mode. Mode is the role that language is

playing in the interaction. The role played by language can be written, spoken, or written to be

spoken (e.g. a political speech). Halliday (1989) further claimed that language can be

spontantenous (e.g. conversation), or planned (e.g. an article). Through the way language is

presented, Halliday (1989) also stated that the level of interactiveness of language can have

immediate feedback (e.g. conversation), rapid feedback (e.g. e-mails), and delayed feedback (e.g.

letters) which can accompany an action (e.g saying while pointing to something) or describing an

experience (e.g. report).

Male Register

Based on a study conducted by Karlsson (2007), the instrument used in order to learn

about male register in a conversation is by conducting a test. What she found in this study is

there are four characteristics which men usually use in making a conversation, such as:

 Strategy in order to control the conversation: No feedback on the female‟s comment.

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  Minimal response in order to let the woman know he is not interested in what she has to

say.

 Swearing/Taboo-words: The man uses taboo-words which are supposed to be more

frequently used among males than females. The words are: Shit!, God damn it!

 Commands: „Give me some paper!‟, „Hand me the Sport Magazine by the sofa!‟.

 Questions are frequently asked: in a conversation between male and female, men are

considered asking for questions in building and maintaining the flow of conversation

(Swann, Deumert, Lillis, Mesthrie; 2004).

Female Register

Based on Lakoff‟s (1973) hypotheses of Female Register as the fundamental theory, there

are six characteristics under the name of „Talking like a lady‟. The further study conducted by

Karlsson (2007) about language used by both male and female in a conversation test is was

associated with Lakoff‟s (1973) theory about female register in a conversation. In her study,

Karlsson found out the characteristics of language used by female consisted of these following

features:

• Intensifiers: So, such,

Lakoff (1973) stated that women used intensively the word so than men. The word so is

mainly used as a superlative word and to give emphasis on something. Example:

1. I feel so unhappy

2. That movie made me so sick

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• Hedges: I think, you know, I really, I mean, I‟m sure, I suppose

According to Lakoff (1973:54), to hedge is to avoid making any strong statement. To broaden

our understanding of hedges, following are several meaning of hedges proposed by some

researchers. Varttala (2001) as finding of the term of hedges as linguistic item which use to

express the speaker‟s certainty or uncertainty and to avoid misunderstanding or

miscommunication between speaker and addressee. Hence, Karlsson (2007) stated that female

speaker uses hedges in order to explain what she means and invites the man to participate in the

conversation

• Tag questions: You didn‟t- did you?

The use of the question intonation in conjunction with declarative, tag question, allows women to

make statement without making assertion. Furthermore, Lakoff (1973) proposed several

functions of tag question as follows:

a) A tag question used in the statement when the speaker is stating a claim, but not really

sure of that claim (e.g. John is here, isn‟t?). The function of tag question in this kind of statement

is for asking confirmation from the addressee.

b) The situation where a tag is legitimate. For example, if the speaker saw something only

indistinctly and have reason to believe the addressee had a better view, the speaker can say: I had

my glasses off. He was out at third, wasn‟t he?

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c) A tag question used when the speaker and the addressee know what the answer must be,

and doesn‟t need confirmation. This kind of tag presents in the situation when the speaker is

trying to elicit conversation from the addressee (e.g. Sure is hot here, isn‟t?)

d) A tag used in discussing personal feelings or opinions and only the speaker normally has

any way of knowing the correct answer (e.g. I have a headache, don‟t I?). This kind of sentence

is usually ridiculous.

e) A tag used in opinion statement seeking for supports, evidence, or confirmation from the

addressee (e.g. The war in Vietnam is terrible, isn‟t it?). One possibility is that the speaker has a

particular answer in mind –„yes‟ or „no‟, but is reluctant to state it baldly.

Another point added by Lakoff in discussing tag question is a tag question is a kind of

polite statement. By using tag question, speaker does not force agreement or belief on the

addressee, but giving them freedom to agree or disagree with the speakers views.

In addition, another study of tag question has been done by Cameron, McAlinden and

O‟Leary (1988) entitled Lakoff in context: the social and linguistic functions of tag questions. In

this study, the writers discuss about Lakoff‟s theory of question tags in FtF interaction.

• The use of “Empty Adjective”

Lakoff (1973) defined empty adjective as an adjective which express the speaker‟s approbation

or admiration for something. Adjectives are applied to soften and add friendly elements to the

sentence, although they do not add any particularly meaningful content. Lakoff also divided two

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types of adjectives which usually used by women and neutral categorization, though some words

from neutral category might be used by women as well.

Neutral Woman only

great adorable

terrific charming

cool sweet

neat lovely

divine

• Polite language: Please; Formal language: I can not…

Females tend to obey the rules of politeness while males tend to obey the rules of direct

discourse. Hence, female speech is typically indirect, repetitious, and unclear while male is

typically direct, clear, and precise.

Gender and CMC

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) is a way of exchanging messages one to

another by using computers. Since the era of the internet, the rate of human interaction through

text-based form has increased. This interaction is supported by technological appliances, such as

mobile phones and computers. Along with the development of technology, the existence of

social network as an alternative media for communication makes long-distance communication

becomes easier. CMC is a form of communication by using internet as a media for

communication which combines text-based form communication and two-way communication.

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The existence of CMC also replaces the traditional way for long distance communication by

using letters.

CMC concluded as an effective communication-alternative that can be used for complex

communication, such as problem-solving and decision-making. However, according to

Hightower and Sayeed (1995) study found that: “CMC groups were less efficient at sharing

information and tended to focus only on a portion of the information available as compared to

face to face groups. Besides, Straus and McGrath (1994) study also found that: “by conducting a

conversation through CMC, a negative impact of CMC compared to face to face discussions

when it comes to productivity, but few differences regarding quality” (cited in Adrianson 2001)

Furthermore, the most obvious feature of Face to face communication that is lacking in

CMC is physical presence, which provides social context sign such as non-verbal signals such as

eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures. Also, another feature that is lacking are voice

inflection, and volume. Furthermore, the last feature is such as age, sex, and physical appearance.

Besides, according to Adrianson & Hjelmquist (1991), the difficulties that the person who chats

faced in CMC is when discussing about complex and unstructured task. Also, there will be

difficulties if the conversation conducted is about persuading or arguing about something.

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) system has become an important part to

establish, develop, and maintain interpersonal relationships nowadays. They are involved in the

shaping of communication in almost every relational context. Furthermore, CMC becomes one

of the aspects which influence the relationship building between one people to another.

According to Coates (1993), “social status differences in real life between men and women in

society, which women are lack of power in their language while men usually dominate in a

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conversation”. It is shown in group discussing consists of mixed-gender members, where men

tend to interrupt more than women.

The differences between features included in FtF communication and CMC also

influenced the output of language used by both male and female. Adrianson (2001) through his

study entitled Gender and CMC found out that that there were more “Opinions” given in FtF

communication, especially by females, than in CMC. There were also more “Disagreements” in

FtF communication than in CMC. Moreover, Female communication stereotypes seem to be less

important in CMC. Furthermore, In general, females are perceived as owning a greater ability to

send, and receive, non-verbal signals than males, and these factors shows up as a stereotype in

FtF communication. In CMC it could be seen as a disadvantage, not being able to use this ability,

and in that matter, be more “like the way men talk”. This could be one of the reasons why

females show fewer stereotypes in CMC.

Due to lack of features such as voice tone and expression, Adrianson and Hjelmquist

(1985) suggested that misunderstanding changes in CMC is because of the effects of written

communication, that is, the lack of feedback and loss of non-verbal signals. Furthermore,

(Matheson and Zanna, 1988) claimed that when the social and non-social dimensions of the self,

such as public self (sensitive to attention and evaluation by others) and a private self (personal

feelings, attitudes, values, and beliefs occur, switching opinion during computer-mediated

discussions may be more reflective of lower public self-awareness than lower private self-

awareness. The results of their study showed higher rate occurrence of private self-awareness

than public self-awareness in CMC than in FtF communication.

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 CMC is also affects the way men and women communicate, as males are believed to

ignore greetings and goodbyes in their communication, while female are believed to start a

conversation with greetings, and end the conversation with goodbyes when they need to (Lee,

2003). Besides, gender differences in CMC compare to FtF is the using of such as turn taking,

topic switching, and conversation dominance, are equalized. As claimed by Smith-Lovin and

Robinson (1992, as cited in Lee, 2013), that in FtF communication men are tend to interrupt

more that women. However, in CMC there isn‟t such a clear division over which gender

interrupts the other gender more. Because of this, interruption is commonly happening in CMC.

Another phenomenon proposed by Tannen (1994) about CMC is that women find no difficulty in

finding something to talk about, and they talk about a small number of topics. Besides, men

exhibit great difficulty finding something to talk about, so they produce small amounts of talk

about each of a great number of topics.

THE STUDY

Context of Study

This study looked at the language use by the participants in a forum discussion website,

DigitalSpy forums, http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/forumdisplay. The website was a general

forum discussion. In this website the participants were discussing about their ideas, arguments,

and opinions related to the topic. Product-based observation, according to Kusek & Rist (2004),

which were used in this research an observation strategy focusing on performance and

achievement of outputs, outcomes and impacts. In this qualitative research, the conversations

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between males and females in general forum discussion website were copied after they finished

the discussion.

Figure 1. DigitalSpy Forum Page

Participants

Thirty members of Forum discussion website who are native speakers participated in the study.

The participants consisted of twenty males and ten females, which cannot be separated as they

were taking part as a whole in the discussion. Purposive sampling is used in this research

because of the needs of the developing analysis. These participants were selected because they

were the representative of area which was researched in this study, which native speakers of

English. Purposive , another type of non-probability sampling, which is characterized by the use

of judgment and a deliberate effort to obtain representative samples by including typical areas or

groups in the sample (Kerlinger, 1986).

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Research instrument

The instrument used in this study was observation. The observation was conducted while the

participants were communicating in forum discussion website, forums.digitalspy.co.uk. To

gather the information needed for this study, the participants were taking part in several

discussions and expected to give their opinions about the topic given. The conversations were

copied as the activities from the forum were saved as a webpage file and language used in the

conversations were analyzed.

Data Analysis

After collecting the data needed, the language used by both male and female speakers was

analyzed. At first the language was classified based on the gender of the speakers, males and

females. These two classifications were then analyzed based on Lakoff‟s (1975) theory on

female register and Karlsson‟s (2007) theory on males‟ language.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Male Register

After collecting the data and through analyzing phase, not all characteristics from male

register found in the conversations. While, on the other hand, the rest characteristics proposed by

Karlsson (2007) – as well supported by previous study by Lakoff (1973) – were found in the

conversations. Based on the findings, from the five characteristics proposed by Karlsson (2007),

there were only four characteristics found in participants‟ use of language in CMC. The four

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characteristics found were Strategy in order to control the conversation, Minimal response,

Commands, and Questions asked.

1. Strategy in order to control the conversation

From the data, there were occurrences where male participants applied the „strategy to

control the conversation‟. Below is an example of that strategy:

Figure 2. Example 1 of Strategy in control the conversation

From the excerpt above, the topic of the discussion was about what is the point of Israel

attacking Gaza. However, the response given by the male speaker was not answering the

question proposed by the female speaker, but then asking the forum what is the point of Gaza

attacking Israel. This turning point practiced by the male speaker considered as „strategy to

control the conversation‟ in order to maintain the conversation also an effort to keep the forum‟s

interest.

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Another example of „strategy to control the conversation‟ found is:

Figure 3. Example 2 of Strategy in control the conversation

In this second example, as the topic of the discussion was about why Israel attacking

Gaza, and their opinions towards the topic that they discussed in the forum. However, from the

response given, the male did not answer the question asked by the previous speaker, but

continuing by saying that it was a good question why Gaza attacking Israel. Then, the male

speaker also tried to maintain the forum‟s interest by using exclamation point. This example is

considered as „strategy to control the conversation‟ as the male speaker maintained and even

developed the conversation farther.

Strategy in order to control a conversation is categorized as a characteristic of male

register. Based on a study by Karlsson (2007), in a conversation, men tend to control the

conversation by using this more than women do. As men are believed to hold higher status than

women do in a society, men usually dominate in controlling a conversation (Tannen, 1994). In a

conversation, one of the strategies used by male to control the conversation over the women is by

remaining silent and changing the topic, instead of answering the question asked by women

(Karlsson, 2007). From the findings, this characteristic could be found in several occasions.

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 2. Minimal Response

From the data, the examples of „minimal response‟ found are in the following three

figures:

Figure 4. Example 1 of Minimal Response

Figure 5. Example 2 of Minimal Response

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Figure 6. Example 3 of Minimal Response

The responses given such as „well said’, ‘so funny’, and ‘agree 100%’ were considered as

minimal response because they did not give their opinions towards the topic discussed in the

forum. These three expressions also shows how the participants were not interested in what the

previous speakers said, either the participants were not interested to response and discuss the

topic further. (Karlsson, 2007)

Minimal response is a characteristic of male register which is sometimes used by the

speaker alongside with the previous characteristic, the strategy to control the conversation.

Minimal responses can be divided into two groups in terms of function. One is to show the

listener‟s agreement and support, encouraging the current speaker to go on. And the other is to

interrupt the current speaker and to be dominant in talking (Hing, 2009). The using of minimal

response by male speaker is also meant to let the female speaker know that he is not interested in

what she has to say (Karlsson, 2007). However, from the findings, the using of minimal response

by female speakers also could be found, even the using by female speakers are almost equal as

men speaker did. Minimal responses given in forum discussion were mostly to show the

speakers‟ agreement towards the opinion and suggestions proposed by other member of the

forum. Hence, minimal response could be concluded as characteristic which could be used by
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both male and female, as it is a response to show agreement, and the aim of forum discussion is

to find an agreement between all members of the forum.

3. Commands

The examples of commands used in conversations can be seen in the following excerpts.

Figure 7. Example 1 of Command

Figure 8. Example 2 of Command

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Figure 9. Example 3 of Command

Figure 10. Example 4 of Command

The statement in figure 6 was considered as a command because the participant wanted

the forum to read the article that supported his opinion. Moreover, the last statement in figure

7could also be considered as a command as the participant asked the previous speaker to try

something else, as the previous speaker tried to change the topic of the discussion. On the other

hand, the „command‟ used in figure 8 was when he asked the previous speaker not to give a

right-wing opinion. Lastly, the statement given in figure 9 is considered as a command as he

wanted the previous speaker to explain or tell something he did not know.

In real society life, men are considered to hold a higher social status than women do

(Lakoff, 1975). Along with language as a part of culture and society life, commanding believed

usually used by male speaker in a conversation. Moreover, Karlsson (2007) proposes this term as

one of the characteristics in male register. The using of commands in forum discussion usually

used by the speakers in asking for opinions and suggestion from the members of the forum, and

sometimes they were used to challenge the members in arguing about the opinions. Based on

Lakoff (1975) theory that men have higher status in real social life so they usually use

„command‟ in their language, it is not as it seemed in forum discussion. In this forum discussion,

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the occurrence of „commands‟ usually used by the speakers when the speakers were asking for

the opposition‟s arguments. Thus, the using of this characteristic is in forum discussion is not

based on gender, but on who has the role as a leader whether it is male or female.

4. Questions asked

Below are the examples of questions asked found in the conversations:

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Figure 11. Examples of Questions Asked

The above excerpts were examples of questions asked by the speakers during certain

discussions in the forum. In FtF communication, men are believed to ask for questions more than

women do in order to maintain and develop the conversation (Swann, Deumert, Lillis, Mesthrie;

2004).

Female Register

After collecting the data and through analyzing phase, all characteristics from female register

found in the conversations. While, on the other hand, all characteristics proposed by Karlsson

(2007) – as well supported by previous study by Lakoff (1973) – were found in the

conversations. Based on the findings, from five characteristics proposed by Karlsson (2007), the

characteristics found are Intensifiers: So, Hedges, Tag questions, Empty adjectives, and polite

language.

1. The using of ‘So’

Followings are the use of “so” as intensifiers found in the conversations.

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Figure 12. Examples of Intensifier: So

The words „so‟ found on the data taking part as an adverb that emphasize the adjectives.

Lakoff (1973) further claims that by using the word so, the speakers‟ feeling would be stronger

in meaning. The using of the word “So” is one of the characteristics of female register found in

conversations. According to Lakoff‟s „Talk like a lady‟, women tend to use so for emphasizing

something and as a superlative form.

2. Hedges

The using of hedges considered as one of the major used characteristic in female register. These

are hedges that found in conversations:

1.2 Tentative Cognition Verbs

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Following are the tentative cognition verbs found in the conversations:

Figure 13. Example of Hedges: Tentative Cognition Verb

The speakers used I think to portray how the speaker were not absolutely sure about the

statement they said. The using of these hedges also aimed to stimulate a response from partner

speaker. These kinds of hedges (I think and I believe) are categorized as tentative cognition verbs

(Varttalla, 2001).

1.3 Probability Adverb

Following are the hedges found in the conversations:

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Figure 14. Example of Hedges: Probability Adverb

By using the word maybe, probably, and possibly, it expressed how the speaker was

uncertain about the statement they said. The using of these „probability adverb‟ also shows how

the speakers were not sure, and asking for further opinion from the partner speaker. This

confirms what Varttala (2001) stating that the use of probability adverbs is categorized as hedges

when it is used for expressing doubtful idea.

1.3 Modal Auxiliaries

Following are the findings in the conversations:

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Figure 15. Example of Hedges: Modal Auxiliaries

The using of modal auxiliaries (should, can, would, and may) are to soften the

participants‟ utterances since the purpose of these utterances were to offering a help asking a

help and asking for agreement.

Based on Lakoff‟s (1973) hypotheses about how the women talk, he claimed that women

use more hedges than men do. However, in a forum discussion based on the findings, male

speakers also using hedges in their language. Hedges found in the findings are commonly used

when all the participants were asking and giving opinions about what should they do for their

projects. As Varttala (2001) stated that the using of hedges is to show the uncertainties, hedges is

the most-used characteristic among others. The using of hedges found on male speakers is

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massive as the speakers proposed their own arguments and opinions towards the topic. The

intensity of using hedges by male speaker also found when they proposed their opinion and

arguments. Hence, the using of hedges still dominated by the female speakers in giving and

asking their opinions.

3. Empty Adjectives

The using of Empty Adjective is a characteristic of female register found in the

conversations. Following are the findings of empty adjectives found in the data:

Figure 16. Empty Adjectives

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 These adjectives are categorized as empty adjectives because the participants used it for

showing their admiration as response. The speakers used these expressions to respond

interlocutors‟ statements. While discussing the topics for the assignment, this characteristic often

used by female speaker in showing agreement response towards the opinion proposed by

previous speaker. From the findings, this characteristic was also used by male speaker. However,

the occurrence of using is often used by female speaker. Hence, in forum discussion situation,

this characteristic still taking part in the way female speakers talk as it shown by the occurrence

of this characteristic used by female speakers.

DATA INTERPRETATION

The were-not-found characteristic from male register is „the using of swearing or taboo

words‟. After considering the reason why this characteristic was not used by the male speakers, it

could be concluded it might be because male speakers considered language politeness when

communicate with female speakers. This could be explained by what Montgomery (1998)

proposes that both men and women are more sensitive in a conversation with a women than they

are when talking to men. Hence, in other words, men are more polite when talking to women.

Furthermore, male register found from the findings shows that male speakers still use language

with characteristics as proposed by Karlsson (2007). The characteristic that mostly found was

questions asked as the field of conversation is forum discussion which required asking and

giving opinions and proposing arguments.

On the other hand, the language used by female speakers in forum discussion still using

the characteristics as Lakoff (1973) proposed on his hypothesis about „how to talk like a lady‟.

Based from the findings, female speakers used intensifier so more than male speaker didas

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Lakoff (1973) states that women use „so‟ intensively to give emphasis on something. Moreover,

from the findings, the use of hedges by female speakers such as ‘I think’ and ‘I know’ still seem

as major characteristic which was mostly used.

Hence, from the findings, male and female register determined by field, tenor, and mode,

as proposed by Halliday (1998), as there were cross-register occurrences found in the

conversations. For example, the female register hedges, like the use of tentative verb „I think‟

was also sometimes used by the male members of the discussion. This could happen because the

situation was forum discussion which required the participants to asking and giving opinions and

proposing arguments. In contrast, female speakers also used male register characteristic in forum

discussion which was questions asked in asking for male speakers‟ arguments towards the topic.

As the conversation was forum discussions, all speakers including male speakers used hedges in

the way they showed their opinion to reflect uncertainty. As Halliday (1998) proposes that field

as one of the categories that affects register, this affects language used by male and female

speakers in this study. Here, the field was forum discussion which expected the participants to

discuss; as in discussing, giving and asking for opinions and proposing arguments. Related to

this, hedges were used by both male and female speakers in giving opinions and their arguments.

Furthermore, as Halliday (1998) stated that tenor, in this occasion the members of the forum,

also determined the register used as the using of swearing/taboo words were not used by male

speakers.

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CONCLUSION

The aim of this study was to identify male and female register in CMC. This study was

conducted by observing the language used by thirty members of online forum discussion website

members. Finally, this study concluded that male and female register were determined mostly by

field, mode, and tenor of the language used (Halliday, 1998). In other words, the topic, the

channel, and the participants of the disussion affect the language used. The other findings also

confirm Karlsson (2007) when male use strategy to control the conversation, minimal response,

questions asked, and commands in conversation. Moreover, this study agrees with Lakoff‟s

(1973) theory, supported by Karlsson (2007) when female used intensifier so, and empty

adjectives more often rather than men do. However, male and female could possibly be

borrowing each other‟s register based on the field where the conversation takes place, as in this

study was forum discussion.

Another finding from this study is that language used by male and female speaker in

CMC, especially in forum discussion may be changed. As Montgomery (1999) states that when

talking with female, male speakers would use more polite language. Also, women are able to

change their language when they are in a society where males and females have equal access to

the standard form; thus, females use standard variants of any stable variable which is socially

stratified for both sexes more often than males do (Nevalainen, 2002).

As language is dynamic, it is necessary for conducting future study related to Male and

Female Register in other area of CMC. As this study took place in forum discussion situation, the

possibilities of register characteristic exchanging occurrence could mostly happen. Thus, further

research could be conducted in online conversation in personal chat rooms, as in chatting, where

30
the the nature of the conversation are not biased. More participants should also be involved for

richer data.

31
 Acknowledgement
Being able to finish this thesis is a pleasing achievement. I would not
have been able to finish this without helping from many people who gave me
supports and encouragements to cheer me up. First of all, I would like to
deepest gratitude to the Almighty Jesus for the guidance and blessing through
all these days. Second, I would also like to thank my „daddy-cool‟ thesis
supervisor, Dian Toar Y. G. Sumakul, MA, for his charismatic advices,
suggestions, and encouragements through hesitating process so that I can
finish this thesis. I would also like to show my appreciation to Dr. Elisabet
Titik Murtisari, M.TransStud as my thesis examiner.
My deepest gratitude also belongs to my beloved parents, my brother
Lil‟ Mike and sister Venezia, and all family, for the love, prayers, and
supports. Also, I want to say thank you so much to my great friends, Boy,
Oscar, Yudhis, Ernes „Brodin‟, Restu „Jarpo‟, Awan „Eek‟, and all Tenners
big Family; All BBC crew from the oldest until the youngest, Nyonya
Meneer, for the support and the togetherness we share. Last but not least, I
also thank Macklemore for “Can‟t Hold Us” and Eduard Khil‟s “Trololo
Song” (10 hours mix) for being with me and all the inspirations through the
research.

32
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