Do men, women and people with other gender identities use language differently? A sociolinguistic perspective on gendered language

This dissertation examines the dynamics of gendered language through a sociolinguistic perspective. I aim to investigate the debate between men's and women's use of language, as well as the linguistic practices of non-binary and transgender individuals. The primary aim is to analyzes the key concepts of sociolinguistics and gender, providing a general understanding of how language both reflects and shapes societal gender norms. The study explores the impact of the emergent feminist movement on sociolinguistics studies and the pivotal contributions of the sociolinguist Robin Lakoff, defining the specific linguistic features of 'women's language’ in her work Language and Woman’s Place (1975). Furthermore, the contemporary debate on gendered language is studied by analyzing and comparing the evolution of various linguistic approaches. Additionally, the study considers the common myths about men’s and women’s language and how those myth still shape the beliefs in male and female miscommunication. Finally, I aim to explore non-binary and transgender people's use of language and the role of language in shaping their gender identities, underlining the importance of a gender inclusive language.