A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MALE AND FEMALE COMMUNICATION STYLES IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK SOCIOLINGUISTIC CONTEXTS

Abstract:

This study investigates how gender and culture interact to shape linguistic behavior by comparing communication styles among English and Uzbek speakers. Drawing on theories of gendered communication and sociolinguistics, the research examines how politeness strategies, emotional expression, directness, and interruption patterns vary across genders and cultural contexts. Using data collected from natural conversations, interviews, and surveys, the analysis reveals that while gendered speech tendencies – such as women’s preference for indirect language and men’s use of assertive forms – are found in both linguistic groups, their underlying motivations differ. In English, such behaviors often reflect egalitarian norms and conversational politeness, whereas in Uzbek they are rooted in hierarchical cultural values. The findings highlight the significance of understanding language as both a reflection and a constructor of social norms, with implications for cross-cultural communication and gender equity.