KQED Radio
KQED Newssee more
Latest Newscasts:KQEDNPR
Player Sponsored By
upper waypoint

I'm Sorry, But May We Discuss Tentative Speech?

at
Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

A recent New York Times opinion piece claimed that women apologize all the time – even when something is not their fault. It’s known as “tentative” or “indirect” speech, when people – usually women – start their sentences with “I’m sorry” or “If you don’t mind.” Is this something you do? Have you tried to change the way you speak – or do you use it to your advantage? We’ll dig into the nuances of tentative speech… if you don’t mind us doing that.

Guests:

Robin Lakoff, UC Berkeley professor emerita in linguistics

Deborah Tannen, Georgetown University professor of linguistics

Cristen Conger, co-creator and host of "Stuff Mom Never Told You"

Sponsored

lower waypoint
next waypoint
Amor Towles on his New Short Story Collection 'Table for Two'SFMOMA’s new collaboration with Artists with DisabilitiesHamas Accepts Ceasefire Deal as Israel Threatens Rafah InvasionWill the U.S. Really Ban TikTok?California PUC Considers New Fixed Charge for ElectricityOakland’s Leila Mottley on Her Debut Collection of Poetry ‘woke up no light’Alice Wong Redefines ‘Disability Intimacy’ in New AnthologyHow a Massive California Prison Hunger Strike Overhauled Solitary ConfinementHow to Spend this Summer Camping CaliforniaKQED Series ‘Beyond the Menu’ Tells the Backstory of Food