Language and Sex: Difference and Domination

The orientation of Thorne & Henley's book is distinctly feminist. Most of the twelve articles are written by women. Contents include "The Making of a Non-Sexist Dictionary," by Alma Graham; "Sex, Covert Prestige and Linguistic Change in the Urban British English of Norwich," by Peter Trudgill; "Power, Sex and Non-Verbal Communication," by Nancy Henley; & "The Sex of the Speaker as a Socio-Linguistic Variable," by Marjorie Swacker. Many writings are found to be biased & hostile, detracting from the authors' academic credibility. Key's book includes a comprehensive bibliography. The material is interesting, but appears watered down & suffers from the conversational style of presentation. An interesting discussion of titles is included. The longest chapters deal with phonological, grammatical & semantic differences in M & F speech, & pronoun gender reference in English & other langs. The reviewer notes an interesting chapter on "Discrimination Against Males" & that the book's conclusions be taken "with a pinch of non-sexist salt." B. Annesser