This paper is an examination of the differences in communication styles, content, and method of interpretation that are the result of gender. As bestsellers such as John Gray's Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus point out, men and women frequently appear to be speaking entirely different languages, even when the vocabulary, syntax, and grammar they use are identical. This is partly the result of the inherent garbling that occurs within any communication process, but it is also because of essential differences between the two sexes. The contrasts in biology, anatomy, and genes provide the initial reason for gender miscommunication, while the influences of society account for the fundamentally contrasting ways in which men and women select the messages they send and transmit to others. Understanding these differences can offer fascinating insights into both the process of information transmission and the contrast between the sexes.
The act of transmitting information is complex and therefore naturally subject to errors, miscommunication, and a complete failure to communicate anything at all. The act begins with an information source. In the case of human communication, this is usually one individual, the encoder. This source decides on the information, or message, to be transmitted and the means, or channel, to be used. The channel can be anything from a spoken sentence to a mass media source, such as a television signal, a magazine article, or the Internet.
The source encodes the message, translating the message into words, sounds, pictures, and other components. These components can include conscious and unconscious elements, such as laughter, music, or e-mail emoticons. The message thus includes verbal and nonverbal elements; some may not be intended as part of the message but are nevertheless included in the package.
The encoded message is then transmitted through the chosen channel to the receiver, or dec...