Deficit Approach

The deficit approach (also known as the deficit model or theory) is an approach that you will often come across when studying language and gender.

We will begin by taking a look at the meaning of the deficit approach before focusing on what it can tell us about the differences between language and gender. We will look at the views of linguists who agree with the deficit approach and explore their findings. We will also consider possible criticisms of the approach.

Deficit approach: meaning

In a broad sense, the deficit approach in linguistics is a perspective that suggests that individuals who speak a non-standard dialect or language variety have weaker in their language skills compared to those who speak a standard variety.

This perspective assumes that the standard variety is the norm and that any deviation from it represents a deficit. This can include the use of language by different genders and races.

This approach has been criticized for not considering the linguistic diversity that exists within a community or group and for failing to recognize the social and cultural factors that shape language use.

Deficit approach: Language and gender

The deficit approach aims to prove that there are differences in the way men and women use language. It argues that the language that men use is the standard and, therefore, superior. On the other hand, the language that women use is viewed as insufficient as it differs from the norm and is therefore inferior.

Deficit approach: the English Language

The language we use can affect how we are perceived by others and reflect our experiences in society. Depending on supporters or critics of the deficit approach, we are able to gain an understanding of how language and gender can be linked.

Supporters of the deficit approach can tell us that language use is influenced by gender. In particular, the approach demonstrates how men's and women's language can be differentiated by their levels of deficiency, as some linguists have identified women's language as 'lacking' in multiple ways.

However, critics of the deficit approach can tell us that there may be problems with the ways the deficit approach views women – the approach suggests inequality between genders as women's language is seen as deficient to men's. They also highlight that the power imbalance in society may not be due to the language used solely by women but due to language used by both men and women in vulnerable positions.

Fig. 1 - Supporters of the deficit approach tell us that language use is affected by gender.

Deficit approach: examples

We will now take a look at the views and findings of linguists who agree with this approach in more detail.

Otto Jespersen: deficit theory

Otto Jespersen was a Danish linguist who focused on the study of grammar in the English language. Jespersen believed that men's language was seen as the standard and normal, whereas women's language was deficient.

In his book Language: Its Nature, Development and Origin (1922), Jespersen explored the differences between the use of language by men and women. Particularly, in a chapter titled Women, Jespersen explored the language used by women. Below are some of his findings:

According to Jespersen, women:

• Talk a lot.
• Use simpler words as they have smaller vocabularies.
• Use more false starts and unfinished sentences because they speak before they think.
• Exaggerate more.
• Use too many adjectives and adverbs.
• Are emotional, not grammatical.
• Are more indirect and, therefore, less effective than men.

Jespersen also described the language used by women as the:

This suggests that, although the language women use is necessary to the development of communication, its influence is not as extensive or desirable as the language men use.

So, what did Jespersen say about men's language?

According to Jespersen, men:

• Have a larger vocabulary and use more difficult words.
• Are in charge of establishing new words in the English language.

This suggests that the language that men use is more impressive and more significant than the language used by women.

Jespersen then stated:

In simpler terms, he believed that if men were to speak in the way that women did, or if they continued letting women speak in such a way, the language would become weaker and uninteresting.

Robin Lakoff: deficit theory

Robin Lakoff is an American linguist who teaches Linguistics at the University of California. In her book, Language and Women's Place (1975), Lakoff explores the language used by women. She argues that the features of language used by women are 'weaker' and more uncertain than the language used by men. She refers to this weaker form of language as 'women's language.'

So why is women's language seen as weaker?

Lakoff believes that the differences in language between men and women reflect their social status and the amount of power they have in society. As a result, she believes that the language that women use is weaker because it reflects their lower social status and lack of power in society.

Lakoff also argues that the powerlessness of women is not only reflected in how they speak but also in how men speak about women. This is because when women are spoken about by men, they are often objectified and seen as reliant on men. This highlights the unfair treatment of women by men in society.

Below are some of Lakoff's findings regarding women's language:

Women may use these things more than men, but they use less:

• Slang
• Swear words
• Insults

This implies that women tend to use more formal language, are more polite, and are less aggressive than men.

Lakoff also observed that women don't have a good sense of humour and are bad at telling jokes...

Fig. 2 - According to Lakoff, women are bad at telling jokes.

Criticisms of the deficit approach

Overall, the deficit approach could be seen as problematic as it focuses on the 'deficits' in women's language while portraying the language of men as the 'norm'. This view implies that there is something wrong with the way that women use language, as it differs from the standard set by men.

As a result, this approach negatively represents women's language, as it is viewed as inferior to and weaker than men's language.

Another criticism comes from William O'Barr and Bowman Atkins, who are supporters of the Diversity Approach. In their article titled 'Women's Language' or 'Powerless Language'? (1980), they explored the language used by people in a courtroom.

They found that the language Lakoff referred to as 'women's language' was actually used by both men and women who were either in a vulnerable position or had a lack of authority. This led them to assume that the power someone has in society is not necessarily dependent on their gender.