Do women really use language differently from men? Over the years, researchers have given different answers to this question. In the legends of some cultures, it is even claimed that men and women speak different languages. If this were true, how could boys communicate with their mothers? One research report shows men and women use much the same grammar and vocabulary in English, although each sex uses certain kinds of words and structures more frequently than the other. Most men use more swear words, while far more women use adjectives such as “super” and “lovely,” and exclamations such as “Goodness me!” and “Oh dear!” Women have been found to ask more questions, make more use of positive and encouraging “noises,” use a wider range of intonation patterns, and make greater use of the pronouns “you” and “we.” By contrast, men are much more likely to interrupt (about three times as often in some studies), to argue about what has been said, to ignore or respond poorly to what has been said, to introduce more new topics into the conversation, and to make more assertions.
According to one research report, which two parts of English are generally shared by men and women?