Strategies for Dealing with Gender-related Language in TESOL: A Prescriptive or Descriptive Approach?
- Authors
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Abdel Halim Sykes
Author
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- Keywords:
- TESOL, gender-related language, prescriptive approach, descriptive approach
- Abstract
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Gender-related language use has been of concern to linguists and language teachers for several decades. In more recent times, those involved in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) have been faced with decisions about what to teach and how to teach in light of the findings of research into gender-related language in English. This paper reviews some of the research in this field and identifies key
themes that have been identified. It seeks to address the dichotomy between the prescriptive and descriptive approaches to TESOL that arise from consideration of issues surrounding gender-related language use. The conclusion drawn is that the primary role of TESOL professionals is to present the language as it is used even if that means presenting language that appears to be masculine dominated in certain linguistic
features. - Downloads
- Published
- 2014-10-06
- Issue
- Vol. 3 No. 4 (2014)
- Section
- Articles