Jennifer Coates - Women, Men and Language

A very interesting and useful book for those interested in gender differences in language use. The book has 4 chapters and each chapter contains several sub chapters. Jennifer Coates manages to answer the following question 'Do women and men speak differently?'
A distinction is being drawn between gender-exclusive differences' and 'gender-preferential differences'. The former is specific to tribal societies whereas the latter can be found in modern societies. She puts forward all kinds of hypotheses and brings evidence in support of her claims from a variety of languages (from Kurux to Japanese).
It is easy to read and well-written.
The following excerpt is from an anonymous contributor to The World (6 May 1756), quoted in the book, who complains of women's excessive use of certain adverbial forms:
"Such is the pomp of utterance of our present women of fashion; which, though it may tend to spoil many a pretty mouth, can never recommend an indifferent one. And hence it is that there is so great a scarcity of originals, and that the ear is such a daily sufferer from an identity of phrase, whether it be vastly, horridly, abominably, immensely, or excessively, which, with three or four more calculated for the same swiss-like service, make up the whole scale or gamut of modern female conversation."

Jennifer Coates - Women, Men and Language, 3rd edition
Published by Longman, 2004, 246 pages