Talking in the Ranks: Gender and Military Discourse

摘要

This interactional sociolinguistic study of military discourse applies the techniques of discourse analysis to the audio-recorded interactions of six Air Force officers. For cross-gender comparison, a male and female Wing Commander, Squadron Commander and Flight Commander were recorded. Literature regarding masculinity theory, language and power, gender indexing, politeness, the study of narrative, and language and ideology was reviewed. Data analysis focuses on the use of 'ma'am' and 'sir', institutional narrative, and language and ideology. Though not conclusive, findings imply that civilians were more likely to offer 'sir' to male military superiors than to offer 'ma'am' to female military superiors, and that subordinates were more likely to show deference to male superiors by asking questions which were accompanied by rising intonation and tagged with 'sir'. Findings also indicate that military women tell narratives and respond to narratives in ways which reinforce the hierarchy and masculinity of the institution, but consistent with the literature their motivation for telling such narratives, or responding in institutional ways, is community-oriented. Lastly, an examination of the links between the military's ideology and language use shows that the hierarchy of the institution also fosters bonds of solidarity so close as to draw feminine enactments of nurture from military makes, though these enactments are inconspicuous in the military's definitively masculine environment.