In her latest column for New York Magazine, writer Ann Friedman wonders whether all the attention paid to “vocal fry” or “upspeak”-- linguistic trends linked mostly to young women -- is another way for our culture to police the way they speak.
While those linguistic tics and speech habits (apologizing too much, using qualifiers that play down one’s expertise) common to women might make them sound less confident, Friedman says the incessant criticism isn’t helping.
Guest host Patt Morrison speaks with Friedman, as well as linguist Deborah Tannen about the subject.
Guests:
Ann Friedman, host of the podcast, “Call Your Girlfriend” and freelance writer for various publications. Her latest piece for New York Magazine is titled “Can We Just, Like, Get Over the Way Women Talk?”
Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University in in D.C. and author of many books, including “You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation” (William Morrow Paperback, 2007)