INTRODUCTION
Background of the study
Linguistics is the study of language and one of its branches is sociolinguistics
The study of the relationship between social and linguistic variables has evolved significantly since before 1900, when sociolinguists primarily viewed male language as the standard (Holmes, 2008) The rise of the feminist movement and extensive research on the differences in speech between women and men have broadened the focus of language and gender studies, highlighting the importance of these variables in understanding communication.
Robin Lakoff, a pioneer in the study of gender and language, highlighted the linguistic disparities between men and women, suggesting that these differences reflect broader social inequalities In her seminal work, "Language and Woman's Place," she identified various linguistic features that characterize women's speech, such as lexical hedges, tag questions, rising intonation on declaratives, and the use of 'superpolite' forms Lakoff argued that women's language often conveys uncertainty and is associated with less significant topics, while men tend to dominate in social contexts, reflecting their greater power and authority Although her observations have faced criticism for potential bias and reliance on personal experience, her contributions remain foundational in understanding gendered communication.
2 empirical data (White, 2003), Lakoff’s definition of woman’s language and position has provided an initial theoretical framework for future researchers
Nevertheless, all of the previous studies have not investigated into the popular reality show - MasterChef U.S Thus, this research is conducted to witness
“Gendered speech differences in the American MasterChef episode 1 season 6”
Statement of research problem & questions
With the view to examining gendered speech differences in spoken data, the study is going to analyze the show “American MasterChef” episode 1 season 6 in
2015 to seek the answers to the following question:
In the American MasterChef Season 6, Episode 1, notable gendered speech differences emerge between male and female judges, particularly in four key areas: sentence types, where male judges often utilize assertive statements while female judges incorporate more varied structures; tentative speech forms, with women displaying a greater tendency toward hedging and qualifiers; vocal tendencies, where male judges typically exhibit a more commanding tone, contrasting with the softer, more encouraging vocal style of female judges; and speech acts, as male judges frequently employ direct evaluations, whereas female judges often engage in supportive and collaborative feedback.
Scope of the study
The MasterChef U.S series comprises 10 seasons and a total of 205 episodes Due to time constraints and the scope of the research, the researcher selected a single episode from one season for data collection Additionally, the analysis did not include gendered speech differences among contestants, as their dialogue was insufficient for meaningful examination Consequently, the focus of the study shifted to evaluating the differences in judges' assessments of contestants' performances.
MasterChef U.S season 6 was the first and also the leader in terms of ratings as well as viewers among three seasons (season 6, 7 and 8) that had a female judge
As a result, for the purpose of the research, the first episode of MasterChef U.S season 6 was chosen as it contained both male (Gordon Ramsay and Graham Elliot)
The study focuses on analyzing the interactions of one male and one female judge from a series featuring three judges, including notable figures like Gordon Ramsay Due to the extensive dialogue and varied tones presented by Ramsay, the research will specifically examine Graham Elliot and Christina Tosi as the selected participants for a more balanced perspective.
Significance of the study
The research serves to bring readers an insightful view of the gendered speech differences reflected in the TV reality show - American MasterChef episode
Research into the conversational styles of male and female judges reveals significant differences that impact message effectiveness By understanding these variations, the study suggests improvements in communication strategies, ultimately enhancing the quality of feedback provided.
Particularly, the study can be used as a supplementary material in teaching about gendered speech differences in specific, and pragmatics in general.
Organization
The following chapters are organized correspondingly in this research paper
Chapter 2: Literature review - provides definitions of key terms and the review of related studies
Chapter 3: Methodology - describes the application of a specific process to collect data
Chapter 4: Findings and Discussion - presents and discusses the findings of the two questions
Chapter 5: Conclusion - summarizes the findings, implications and limitations of the study and suggestions for further studies
Following these chapters are References and Appendices
LITERATURE REVIEW
Gender
"Gender" is a crucial concept that significantly influences contemporary society Initially, it referred solely to grammatical categories in linguistics, but its usage has expanded in everyday contexts This evolution has led to widespread confusion between the terms "gender" and "sex."
In his 2006 book, Wardhaugh emphasizes that while sex is largely biologically determined, gender is a socially constructed concept Gender encompasses various aspects, including sexual orientation, sexual identity, and the societal perceptions of masculinity and femininity Additionally, it plays a crucial role in defining social and economic roles and relationships (Schilling, 2011).
The American MasterChef reality show
A study titled "The Triumph of Reality-TV: The Revolution in American Television" (2013) by Edwards found that reality TV has emerged as one of the most favored genres among American audiences According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, reality TV refers to shows featuring real people in genuine situations, designed for entertainment purposes.
Kavka (2012) also expressed the same idea on this notion, stating that reality television “refers to unscripted shows with non-professional actors being observed by camera in preconfigured environments”
Hall (2009) offers a refined perspective on reality shows, emphasizing that their unifying characteristic is not their format, setting, or subject matter, nor the perception of depicting "real" life Instead, audiences categorize these shows based on the portrayal of real individuals playing themselves This means that participants engage in unscripted performances, responding to the director's guidance in a genuine and authentic manner, without rehearsals or prior training.
John Corner (2002) notes that reality TV is a blend of various genres, including documentaries, game shows, talk shows, and talent shows This fusion of successful genres contributes significantly to the strong market value of reality television, as highlighted by Hill (2005).
American MasterChef, a popular cooking reality TV show, is based on the original British series that aired from 1990 to 2001 and was revived in 2005 as MasterChef Goes Large In 2008, the title was reverted to MasterChef while maintaining the same format Today, the franchise includes four versions: the main MasterChef series, Celebrity MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, and Junior MasterChef.
The show's format and style have been adapted globally, with notable international versions, particularly the American MasterChef, which stands out as one of the most popular cooking competitions The first five seasons featured renowned chefs Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and restaurateur Joe Bastianich However, from seasons 6 to 8, a significant shift occurred with pastry chef Christina Tosi stepping in as a temporary replacement for Bastianich.
7, a series of guest judges were in place of a third judge due to Elliot’s departure Since Season 8, Aarón Sanchez has joined the show as a regular judge In Season 9,
Bastianich returned as a regular judge, replacing Tosi Finally, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a tenth season, which premiered on May 29,
2019 with Ramsay, Sanchez, and Bastianich returning as judges
Despite facing criticism for its scripted moments and lack of focus on food, "MasterChef" U.S has received numerous prestigious awards, including the ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards in 2013, 2014, and 2015, as well as the Critics Choice Television Awards in 2013 and 2014, and recognition from the Directors Guild of America in 2013 and 2018.
The premiere of American MasterChef Season 6 aired on May 20, 2015, featuring the first of three audition rounds titled “Let the Battle Commence (Top 40).” In this episode, 22 out of 40 selected contestants faced off in head-to-head challenges before esteemed judges Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Christina Tosi.
In episode 2, 18 contestants participated in the second and third rounds of auditions, competing for a white apron and a place in the top 20 The first match featured Claudia and Andrew, with Claudia winning for her superior shrimp dish The second battle saw Tommy triumph over Stephen in the pork tenderloin challenge Finally, in a four-way lamb competition among Amanda, Derrick, Nate, and Moniza, both Derrick and Amanda emerged victorious, earning their white aprons.
In the latest competition, Ailsa, Dan, Kerry, Mateo, Veronica, and Nick successfully advanced to the next stage The episode concluded with a thrilling battle featuring salmon, where Katrina triumphed over Taylor, securing the coveted white apron and a place in the top 20.
Linguistic features
English sentences are categorized into four types based on their purpose and syntactic structure: declaratives, interrogatives, imperatives, and exclamatives Exclamative sentences, influenced by intonation and contextual factors, may also be viewed as distinct linguistic features in different contexts.
In theoretical classifications of sentence types, the fundamental categories are declaratives, interrogatives, and imperatives, while exclamatives are regarded as distinct from these groups Exclamatives are uniquely defined by their specific intonational patterns.
Therefore, the following parts will be discussing only declarative, interrogative, and imperative sentences
A declarative sentence serves to convey a statement to another individual without requiring a response (Verhaar, 2012) Essentially, this type of sentence is primarily employed to assert and communicate precise information, rather than posing a question or issuing a command.
Research indicates that there is a notable difference in the use of declarative sentences between genders Males tend to favor simple declarative sentences, while females are more inclined to use complex forms (Gborsong, 2016) Additionally, a 2019 study found that women predominantly utilize declarative forms in directive speech, as these constructions are perceived as "more polite and less direct."
An interrogative sentence is primarily used to pose a question, serving the purpose of eliciting information These sentences can be categorized into two main types: non-polar interrogatives, commonly known as WH- questions, and polar interrogatives, which are structured as Yes/No questions.
Mary Umemoto highlights that tag questions, a subset of polar interrogatives, are predominantly utilized by women to soften statements or commands (Montgomery, 1995) Supporting this notion, Gborsong (2016) found in his study on request forms among undergraduate students in Ghana that females frequently use interrogatives as the primary sentence type for making requests.
Gborsong observed that male speakers often utilize non-polar interrogatives, whereas female speakers prefer polar interrogative sentences However, research on this topic presents conflicting views; while some studies suggest that women ask more questions than men (Lakoff, 1975; Tannen, 1995), others argue that both genders inquire at comparable rates (Martín, 2015).
Imperative sentences typically lack a visible grammatical subject and feature the base form of the verb These sentences are commonly utilized for issuing orders or commands, making them less suitable for formal contexts where politeness strategies are preferred.
Research by Gborsong (2016) indicates that men tend to use imperatives more frequently than women Similarly, Chinese linguist Yang Yonglin (2004) found that males prefer a direct and straightforward approach in their communication style.
Research indicates that men typically use declarative and imperative sentences to issue commands, while women often opt for exclamatory or consultative imperative sentences Women tend to incorporate modal verbs like may, might, could, or would to soften their requests, as seen in phrases such as “Would you mind handing me that bag over there?” In contrast, men are more likely to employ direct commands, exemplified by “Hand me that bag over there!” This direct approach is often perceived as rude when used by women, highlighting the differences in communication styles between genders.
Intensifiers, such as very, so, really, and totally, enhance the impact of verbs by strengthening their emotional content (Sardabi & Afghari, 2015) Defined by Corey as "adverbs that maximize or boost meaning," intensifiers showcase verbal skills and guide the audience's emotional responses Examples of intensifiers include those provided by Sardabi and Afghari, illustrating their role in amplifying meaning.
That is very interesting (basic intensifier)
That is very, very interesting (repetition to increase effect)
That is extremely interesting (suggesting extreme response)
That is amazingly interesting (suggesting being amazed)
That is scarily interesting (suggesting being scared)
That is quite interesting (reducing intensity)
That is a bit interesting (reducing intensity)
Their result indicated that females used more intensifiers compared to males, confirming Lakoff’s theory and observation on linguistic differences between males and females
Another study conducted by Yaguchi, Iyeiri, and Baba (2010) showed that
“so, very, really, and pretty were in the top five most frequently used amplifiers” These results also showed that women depended on the use of “very” while men
“prefer really and pretty more than the other intensifiers.”
A study by Bradac, Mulac, and Thompson (1995, cited in Kuha, 2005) examined the use of intensifiers among 116 students, revealing an average usage of 0.8 intensifiers per 100 words for men and 1.1 for women Consistent with previous research, the findings indicated that women preferred certain intensifiers, such as "really" and "so," more than men.
The use of intensifiers differs across age groups, as highlighted by Murphy (2010), who studied gender and age preferences in intensifier frequency using 13 variants His findings revealed that intensifier usage among males consistently declines with age, while the oldest female group also showed a reduction in amplifiers Notably, despite the small size of the youngest female group, women consistently employed more intensifiers than men across all age categories.
The term "back-channels," introduced by Yngve in 1970, refers to brief responses like “yes,” “uh-huh,” and “I see” that listeners use to show engagement without interrupting the speaker Forbes and Cordella (1999) further explain that back-channeling allows participants to express agreement and appreciation for the speaker's message while maintaining the flow of conversation.
A: If you use long distance services a lot, then you’ll
A: be interested in the discount I’m talking about because
A: it can only save you money to switch to a cheaper service
Back-channel responses can be identified in different forms, both verbal and non-verbal Non-verbal signals include head nods, smiles, facial expressions and gestures
Research by Forbes and Cordella indicates that women utilize backchannel communication more frequently than men However, it's important to consider the gender ratio of the group, as participants often adjust their backchanneling behavior based on the composition of the group.
METHODOLOGY
Research design and Sampling method
The quantitative approach was utilized as the main method as it helped the researcher to study the basic and outstanding features of the participants
This study aims to explore the differences between male and female judges in reality shows by utilizing a specific sampling method Key scenes from a 22-minute edited version of an episode of the popular American cooking competition, MasterChef, were selected, focusing on the interactions between the judges and contestants Although the episode featured around 10 cooking battles, only 4 were fully recorded from start to finish, while the others were condensed into brief highlights that included contestant introductions and judges' comments Consequently, the analysis will concentrate on the data derived from these 4 battles.
Data collection instrument
Researchers globally have explored various methods to analyze gendered speech differences This study focuses on key linguistic features, including sentence types, tentative speech forms, vocal tendencies, and speech acts.
Due to the unavailability of direct interviews with the show's judges, the author gathered data from accessible online videos, which were subsequently transcribed For this case study, the selected excerpt underwent meticulous observation, frequency analysis, and analysis using pitch software (Speech Analyzer).
Data collection procedure
The data collection procedure contains three main phases as follow:
Phase 1: Searching for and recording episode 1 of the American MasterChef season
Phase 2: Cutting the chosen scenes and merging them into one final video (Only the judges’ comments and announcements on the contestants’ dishes were chosen as the research sample)
Phase 3: Transcribing two participants’ speeches in the video into text form (Due to the small research size, the video was transcribed by the author, hence the accuracy maybe limited).
Data analysis procedure
The data analysis procedure includes two main phases as follow:
Phase 1: Watching and analyzing the speeches of the two participants based on four main criteria: sentence types, tentative speech forms, vocal tendency, and speech acts
Phase 2: Interpreting the analysis and drawing conclusions
Declarative sentence a Simple Declarative sentence b Complex Declarative sentence
Interrogative sentence a Polar interrogative (non-standard form): Yes/No questions, tag questions, etc b Non-polar interrogative (standard form): WH-questions
Imperative sentence a Imperatives using short requests b Imperatives using modal verbs
Intensifiers Adverbs such as “very”, “so”, “really”,
Back-channels a Verbal signals: short messages such as
“yes”, “uh-huh”, “yeah”, “I see”, “right” given by the listeners b Non-verbal signals: head nod, smile/ laughter
Hedges a Phrases with: “I think”, “I mean”, “I assume”, etc b Pragmatic particles such as “you know”,
“sort of”, “well”, “you see”, etc c Adverbial: “maybe”, “probably”,
Vocal tendency Speed a Number of words/ time b Factors such as pauses/ stuttering Intonation Pitch range (Hz)
Speech acts a Direct speech acts b Indirect speech acts
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS
Sentence types
Table 4.1 Frequency of declarative sentences used by the judges
Both judges, Graham and Christina, utilized a mix of simple and complex sentences in their comments and opinions However, they showed a preference for simple declarative sentences in everyday conversations Notably, Christina used both simple and complex sentences slightly more frequently than Graham, as illustrated in the accompanying table (See Appendix 1).
Research indicates that while there is a difference in the use of declarative sentences between men and women, the distinction is not significant This finding contrasts with earlier studies suggesting that men typically use more declarative sentences, whereas women are more likely to employ tag questions (Roese, 2013; Utley, Mathena).
Research by Gunaldo (2020) indicates that men do not use more declarative sentences than women, and female speech lacks tag endings These differences may stem from the roles and speaking time of the participants, as Christina spoke more and provided longer comments than Graham Additionally, women tend to favor longer sentences with hedges, often blending criticisms and compliments to soften their declarative statements through complex structures.
The analysis of simple and complex declarative sentences reveals a consistency with previous research findings In the competitive setting, Christina and Graham served dual roles as judges and co-hosts alongside Gordon Ramsay, particularly evident in the first episode Their use of simple declarative statements demonstrates authority and assertiveness in their commentary Consequently, the prevalence of simple declarative sentences over longer, more complex structures is clearly notable.
Table 4.2 Frequency of interrogative sentences used by the judges:
In a comparison of sentence types used by judges, interrogative sentences were notably less frequent than declarative sentences, with only 14 questions recorded The data reveals that Christina posed twice as many questions as Graham While both participants asked an equal number of non-standard questions (2 polar interrogatives), Christina surpassed Graham in standard questions (non-polar interrogatives), with a total of 7 compared to Graham's 3.
Research supports Lakoff's (1975) theory that women tend to ask more questions than men, likely viewing interrogative sentences as a means to foster engaging conversations In the show, Gordon Ramsay, the main host, initiated the evaluation segment, leading to most questions about the dishes being posed by him Consequently, Graham felt no need to ask additional questions, as the necessary information was already provided In contrast, Christina actively sought further insights into the contestants’ emotions and thoughts regarding their dishes, exemplified by her inquiries such as “What does this apron mean to you?” and “Do you make this dish for your mom at home?”
“Are you worried about anything?”, etc In other words, we can say that women are more polite and considerate in most situations than men
Graham demonstrates a notable correlation between declarative and interrogative sentences in his speech, often employing short, simple declarative sentences with rising intonation to convey his ideas when using polar interrogatives In contrast, Christina also utilizes polar interrogatives in her speech.
Research suggests that women who are more status-conscious tend to utilize standard language forms more frequently than men, who are often linked to manual labor and traits such as strength and toughness (Nguyen et al., 2019) This observation highlights a potential gender difference in language use and social status.
Table 4.3 Frequency of imperative sentences used by the judges:
In the analyzed video, imperative sentences were the least preferred, with only eight instances used by both participants Unlike other sentence types where Christina dominated in frequency, Graham notably used three times as many imperatives The judges showed a clear preference for concise requests over modal verbs, as evidenced by Graham's single use of a modal verb and Christina's complete avoidance of them (See Appendix 1).
In conversations among judges on US MasterChef, imperatives were not commonly employed by either male or female judges However, the male judges exhibited a higher frequency of requests in imperative form compared to their female counterparts This finding aligns with Gborsong's research on communication, gender, and formality.
A 2016 study titled "A Study of Request Forms Used by Undergraduate Students in Ghana" found that out of 81 students making requests in imperatives, 55.6% were males, indicating a significant gender difference in communication styles This prevalence of short and direct imperatives among male students may be attributed to gender stereotypes that suggest men are more direct and straightforward in issuing commands (Thimm et al., 2003).
In this episode, the use of imperative sentences with modal verbs was notably limited, possibly influenced by the show's format Interestingly, the female judge utilized fewer modal imperatives compared to her male counterpart, contradicting earlier research by Crosby (1977), which suggested that women typically use modal verbs in commands to soften their tone and reduce perceived impoliteness.
Tentative speech forms
Table 4.4 Frequency of intensifiers used by the judges:
Participants Number of times used Intensifiers
In total, the intensifiers were used 40 times, in which 22 times were made by the female judge while the other 18 times were carried out by the male judge
The intensifiers utilized by the participants in this episode include:
+ Christina: “really” (14 times), “a little (bit)” (3 times), “very” (2 times), “so” (1 time) and “just” (2 times)
+ Graham: “really” (6 times), “a little (bit)” (5 times), “completely” (1 time) and “just” (6 times)
Among her 22 times of employing intensifiers, Christina, occasionally used
5 different ones with the most common word being used is “really” (14 times), whereas Gordon’s favorite intensifier was “really” and “just” (6 times, each)
The application of intensifiers in speech serves to enhance the meaning of words, with data indicating that women utilize them more frequently than men Research by Robert Fuchs, which analyzed over 600 participants, confirms that "really" is the most commonly used intensifier among both sexes Fuchs' study highlights that, across various age groups and social classes, women tend to employ intensifiers more than their male counterparts, reflecting significant trends in the sociolinguistics of British English.
Nevertheless, the gender difference in the usage frequency of intensifiers were not statistically significant in the author’s case (female: 55%; male: 45%) As
Robert explained, this might be due to “a shift towards a stereotypically more feminine communicative style as the perception of gender roles has changed”
Table 4.5 Frequency of back-channels used by the judges (verbal and non- verbal)
No Types of Backchannel Graham Elliot Christina Tosi
To conduct the detailed analysis on backchannels, the researcher adopted 5 types of backchannels categorized by Sarom (2014), including Short Utterance, Laughter, Short Question, Brief Restatement, Sentence Completion (see Appendix
2) During the process of detailed observation, the researcher found out that 3 out of
5 types were used and added one more which is Head nod, a signal that expresses agreement
Graham utilized backchannel items 19 times, with 12 being verbal and seven non-verbal In contrast, Christina employed a total of 24 backchannel signals, consisting of 14 verbal and 10 non-verbal cues.
Both genders commonly utilize Short Utterance as a backchannel, but female participants tend to employ backchanneling slightly more than males.
The findings align with Lakoff's (1975) research, indicating that women utilize more back-channeling signals than men, attributed to their perceived politeness and supportiveness in social interactions The frequency of back-channel usage shows minimal disparity, with females at 56% and males at 44%, suggesting a similar rationale to the previously discussed gender differences in the use of intensifiers.
Table 4.6 Frequency of hedges used by the judges:
Participants Number of times used Hedges
The table illustrates the frequency of hedges utilized by male and female judges in the selected extract, revealing that both Christina and Graham used a comparable amount, with 10 and 9 instances, respectively.
The hedging utilized by the two judges in the extract include:
In a recent conversation, Christina expressed her thoughts multiple times, using phrases like "I think" and "I feel like" to emphasize her perspective She also mentioned, "I gotta say" to introduce a key point, while Graham echoed similar sentiments with "I think" and "you know," highlighting their shared understanding Both participants used "alright" and "so" to transition between ideas, creating a coherent dialogue that reflects their engagement in the discussion.
Among their total 29 times of applying hedges, both Christina and Graham favored “I think” over their other 6 and 5 hedging expressions
The use of various fillers in the speech of both male and female participants aimed to ensure a smooth and friendly dialogue between the judges and the cooks However, as indicated in Table 4.6, the findings did not completely align with Crosby's conclusions.
Research by Nyquist (1977) suggests that women use hedges more frequently than men; however, this contradicts the findings of Mohamad and Sahib (2014) In reality, the frequency of hedge usage among male and female judges was nearly equal, aligning with the analysis of other linguistic features such as intensifiers and backchannels, which may share a similar underlying explanation.
Vocal tendency
Table 4.7 Number of words spoken per seconds by the judges:
Participants Number of words Time (seconds)
Figure 4.1 Number of words spoken per seconds by the judges (in percentage)
In a recent analysis of cooking show judges' speaking rates, Christina delivered a total of 506 words in 178 seconds, averaging 2.8 words per second In contrast, Graham spoke 461 words in just 153 seconds, achieving an average of approximately 3 words per second These findings indicate that the male judge communicated more quickly and conveyed more information compared to his female counterpart.
The result concluded from the findings above has confirmed Amir’s preliminary observation on the speaking rate among adult Hebrew speakers, which
Research indicates minimal differences in speech rates between genders, with male respondents speaking 4% faster than females This slight variation suggests that men often convey more ideas and information, likely because their communication style focuses on directness, while women prioritize clarity for their listeners.
The Speech Analyzer software was utilized to assess the pitch range of participants, revealing that the male judge's pitch typically ranged from 60 to 170 Hz In contrast, the female representative demonstrated a higher pitch range, fluctuating between 150 Hz and 400 Hz, often elevating her tone in most sentences.
Example of pitch range in Christina's speech
Example of pitch range in Graham’s speech
Measuring the highest and lowest pitch of participants was challenging due to background music, but the author successfully analyzed the fundamental frequency of both male and female speech The findings support Lakoff and Cruttenden’s theory, indicating that women tend to speak with a higher pitch In contrast, men typically have a lower pitch range, attributed to the thickening of their vocal cords during puberty as a result of testosterone.
Rising tones during conversation indicate that speakers are attentive to their partners and the overall atmosphere, allowing them to select an appropriate tone for their responses.
Speech acts
Table 4.8 Frequency of speech acts (direct and indirect) used by the judges:
Figure 4.2 Frequency of direct speech acts and indirect speech acts used by the judges:
The analysis of the judges' speech acts reveals a strong preference for direct speech, with 97% of the total 97 speech acts being direct, while indirect speech acts comprised only 3% The difference in usage frequency between judges Christina and Graham was minimal Christina employed direct speech acts 48 times, slightly more than Graham, who used them 46 times Interestingly, in terms of indirect speech acts, Graham surpassed Christina by one instance, despite the overall low frequency of indirect speech.
Crosby (2000) and Moore (2002) found that men typically favor direct speech acts, while women prefer indirect ones; however, this episode revealed a different dynamic Lakoff (1973) suggested that the man's frequent use of direct speech acts contributed to his perceived power in the conversation, while the woman aimed to maintain politeness This discrepancy may be attributed to the unequal distribution of dialogue, as Christina provided more commentary on contestants' presentations and had slightly more lines than Graham in the show.
Direct speech actsIndirect speech acts
35 addition, this can also be considered a change in the conventional gender role stereotype, in which women no longer play the submissive or inferior part
CONCLUSION
Summary of findings
The case study “Gendered Speech Differences in American MasterChef Season 6, Episode 1” analyzes the dialogues of a male and a female judge, focusing on four key elements: sentence types, tentative speech forms, vocal tendencies, and speech acts The research aims to uncover the gendered speech differences exhibited in the reality show as judges provide feedback on contestants' dishes and make announcements throughout the episode.
Using a quantitative approach, the study highlighted distinct speech patterns between two participants, revealing that men typically exhibit more assertiveness, provide greater amounts of information, speak at a faster pace, and utilize imperative sentences In contrast, women are characterized by a higher tone, increased intonation, and a tendency towards tentative speech forms Notably, some findings, particularly regarding direct and indirect speech acts, diverge from previous research, attributed to the unique context of reality shows and evolving societal stereotypes.
Implications
Preliminary research suggests significant variations in conversational styles across different regions The judges on talent-seeking shows like American MasterChef may utilize diverse linguistic features, including hedges, intensifiers, backchannels, and indirect speech acts, reflecting their preferences and influencing the competition dynamics.
37 etc to minimize possible threats caused to contestants’ faces, to motivate those with excellent performances, and to successfully deliver messages in the show
In analyzing gendered speech, it is evident that the male judge often delivers direct comments, which can create pressure for candidates, while the female judge fosters a more supportive environment through the use of hedges, intensifiers, and backchannels, speaking at a moderate pace Although the male judge may appear to hold a more dominant position at times, the differences in communication styles between genders are becoming less pronounced, reflecting a gradual shift in traditional gender role stereotypes.
This case study's findings on gendered speech differences in the context of the TV show MasterChef U.S can serve as a valuable reference for future research Additionally, the insights gained may be integrated into higher education curricula focused on Pragmatics and specific linguistic features such as sentence types, tentative speech forms, vocal tendencies, and speech acts.
Limitations and suggestions for further research
Due to the limited scope of a bachelor's thesis, this study focuses on the analysis of four linguistic features used by two judges of different genders in a single episode of MasterChef U.S Consequently, the findings may lack broader generalizability.
Future research could expand the sample size to explore gendered speech differences across various episodes and seasons of the show, analyzing the communication styles of both judges and contestants to identify any notable variations in their roles.
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TRANSCRIPTION AND COLOR CODED ELEMENTS
[Graham Elliot] whole head on shrimp
You have to know what you're doing because you can never really tell when that shrimp is properly cooked
47 when it's in the shell
So that would be a real test
[Christina Tosi] If they’re not seasoned well, that is the kiss of death
Get it source, get it wiped, get it garnished
Please, bring your dishes to the front
[Christina Tosi] very interesting combination of flavors and textures
[Christina Tosi] I think the presentation leaves a little bit more to be desired
I like the garlic, the great Pico
[Graham Elliot] I think you could use a pinch of salt just to bring that out and make it a little more savory
But, uh… it's really really tasty
Man! The sauce with that vermouth
[Graham Elliot] the shrimp was a little too much give, a little overcooked
[Graham Elliot] I really enjoy the layers of the bacon, and the mushroom, and shrimp
04:21.97 but the rice didn't really enhance or elevate the dish
Andrew, the sauce was so delicious
I love the addition of the vermouth
I gotta say I think the apron should go to Andrew
Wow, so it's on me now
Two totally different styles, one apron
The person whose dish just has a slight edge
Claudia, sorry but you got to stick around longer
Andrew, great dish, really delicious!
Huhhh Tommy's tenderloin is raw in the center
[Christina Tosi] I think he might be done
Polar interrogative (non-standard form)
Plating wise You've got stems of the fennel, you've got the fronds, you've got a sage leave
It's nice that you're showing some of that artistry
But you need to dial it back
The fennel fronds actually bring a really great unexpected freshness to the dish
Steven! Please, describe your dish
You've got uh walnut
Polar interrogative (non-standard form)
[Graham Elliot] I think those flavors are classic, and they taste great
Your pork has a really great flavor to it
But the vegetable in the middle, they're almost so hard, they could just be a Crudités on the side
The irony of those vegetables…
You being an urban gardener
It's the thing you love, but it also
55 might be the thing that sends you home
You both did a really great job!
Which one of these pork dishes wins this apron?
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Right! I think everybody's become much more of a foodie
11:58.07 so instead of, you know, just a chicken breast or something else
12:01.97 you're seeing people from completely different backgrounds part to the world doing lamb
[Christina Tosi] It really shows the power of how food unites
What do we have here?
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Okay So, what does this apron mean to you?
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Do you make this dish for your mom at home?
Polar interrogative (non-standard form)
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Just under 15 minutes to go
[Christina Tosi] It smells delicious!
[Christina Tosi] I love the pine nuts in them
And what are you preparing here is your
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Are you worried about anything?
You have just over five minutes to go
Polar interrogative (non-standard form)
[Graham Elliot] under cook, over cook, under season, over season
Those are the big issues here
And they will separate them from getting an apron, and just going home empty-handed
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Really nice decision that soon acts on
Seasoning really brings out both the potatoes and the lamb
[Christina Tosi] I could see that the potatoes if they were crisp would really be a great statement in texture
[Christina Tosi] but they're a little soft so you can sort of see where
60 you lost track of time
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
Go ahead and tell me what you've made
[Graham Elliot] the preparation, the flavor, the technique, and the plating
You’ve nailed them all
[Graham Elliot] I think you've got a long long road ahead of you with cooking
This is one of the best things that we've had so far
What are you making to battle for that apron?
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
It's a little confusing to me, those salmon curried flavors,
[Christina Tosi] but I also feel like it’s balls
The level of action that Taylor's bringing here, you know, like it's game day
[Graham Elliot] If you guys came to change your lives, you have five minutes to do so
You can smell those blackening spices
Yeah, but she has a lot to get done
But if it’s not on the plate, you
63 don’t have anything to taste
Taylor, keep going, keep going
So salsa is one of those things that can show off some knife skills
So I'm looking at the pineapple
Non-polar interrogative (standard form)
[Graham Elliot] A little bit of the skin
[Christina Tosi] I think that the blackened rub on the salmon for me is what just seals the deal in the flavor
I feel like I really understand your flavor palate
It remains very clear the potential that you have
The cook ah I think Taylor's was
65 a little more in that mid-rare, medium phase
[Graham Elliot] I think this is just a little over
I personally have never had a salmon curry before
But man, the sauce really delicious
[Christina Tosi] I gotta go with Katrina
Yeah, but I mean the the cook on Taylor's was perfect
You can teach him some stuff
Yeah, but Katrina's personality on her plate
You can really gauge what her potential is