Investigating the Feminine Language Features in the Novels "Adore Me" and "My Bird" Based on Robin Lakoff's Model

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the gender markers of female language in two contemporary Arabic and Persian novels. The gender markers of women's language in these novels include: frequent usage of hedges, intensifiers, polite language, approximate adjectives, woman's vocabularies, detailed illustrations and color words. Methods: To accomplish this objective, the present article employs a descriptive-analytical methodology. Drawing on Lakoff's model, it examines the gender markers in the two novels, namely "Adore Me" by Sanaa Shalan (2013) and "My Bird" by Fariba Vafi (2002). Results: The study's findings reveal a notable prevalence of women-specific vocabulary in both novels. Additionally, women's language in these literary works is characterized by intricate and detailed descriptions, along with a profusion of tone color. Hedges, intensifiers, and approximate adjectives are more frequently employed by the female characters in both novels. Furthermore, the avoidance of profanity and the preference for indirect requests illustrate the women's inclination towards a polite linguistic demeanor in their interactions. Conclusions: This investigation underscores the existence of direct correlations between language and the speaker's gender in both Arabic and Persian, contributing to discernible linguistic differentiations between men and women. The outcomes of this research hold potential value for linguists seeking insights into the distinctions within the language patterns of men and women.