Language and Power in an Academic Context

Abstract

The use of language strategies to express power varies according to the status, sex, and ethnicity of the interactants. A total of 50 same-sex dyads in unconstrained conversation were videotaped: 10 each of Australian student with Australian student, Australian student with ethnic Chinese overseas student, Chinese student with Chinese student, Australian student with Australian academic staff member (lecturer), and Chinese student with Australian lecturer. Results indicated that students shared management of the interaction with other students but that lecturers controlled management of interactions with students. Although both male and female lecturers controlled the discourse, however, men did so particularly with nonverbal behaviour whereas women controlled the interactions with discourse management and interpersonal control. Female students in mixed-status interactions behaved more similarly to males than they did in same-status interactions. Lecturers and male Australian students controlled interactions with Chinese students more than they did with Australian students.