Re: speaking vs clamming up

Dewey Dykstra, Jr. (dykstrad who-is-at varney.idbsu.edu)
Wed, 14 Aug 1996 10:58:44 -0700

>Dear Dewey, don't forget the "wanna-be" factor, as in, linguistics is,
>after all, a science ...
>
>or a more recent experience: this is, after all , a college ... followed
>by voicing dynamics that exclude most of the students at said college
>
>Realizing that I am being opaque, let me add to Lisa's observations a
>little anecdote:
>
>In Fall 87, having just passed muster as a doctoral student, I got into a
>class that experienced many problems. Among the dozen or so students, I
>and another woman came into the class as the "assertive" ones, the ones who
>could usually be trusted to pipe up. Well, I looked around me one fine
>day, saw students sitting in unhappy silence, and I just couldn't do it!
>My thoughts went something like, "No! I am just not in the mood to be the
>bitch this semester!" The other woman had the same reaction. The class
>went on unhappily ever after. Eventually, both I and the other woman
>dropped out.
>
>Breaking the silence isn't all there is to it. For me, breaking the
>silence often has meant wrestling with the ready-made role of the bitch.
>It gets old.
>
>Genevieve

Just back after being gone for 10 days and going through nearly 300 messages...

Genevieve:
I know that this is one of many problems faced in the classroom. A woman
in my class this past semester, responding to my request to the class to
'pipe up' and say something, did and she has the capability of using that
'science voice.' Some of this tone rubbed other students the wrong way and
some of them I expect thought of her as a "bitch". I believe that she was
expressing in part her exasperation with students not really engaging and
participating, but this in conjunction with her 'science voice' (she works
for a local high tech outfit) did not turn out for the best.

Still, I am searching for how to maximize interpersonal communication and
and minimize ALL the silencing phenomena associated with 'the voice' of
science. At least I'd like to understand the processes more so that we can
begin figuring out how to minimize the negative effects.

Thanks for your comment. It reminded me of yet another thing that I have
to account for.

Dewey

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Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr. Phone: (208)385-3105
Professor of Physics Dept: (208)385-3775
Department of Physics/SN318 Fax: (208)385-4330
Boise State University dykstrad who-is-at varney.idbsu.edu
1910 University Drive Boise Highlanders
Boise, ID 83725-1570 novice piper
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