191 Quotes by Deborah Tannen

Our ways of relating to each other become like habits.

The long history of conversations that family members share contributes not only to how listeners interpret words but also to how speakers choose them.

My interest in the linguistic differences between women and men grew from research I conducted early in my career on conversations between speakers of different ethnic and regional backgrounds.

It's a particularly modern myth that married people are best friends. The best-friend concept is a uniquely female phenomena.

The contrasting focus on connection versus hierarchy also sheds light on innumerable adult conversations - and frustrations. Say a woman tells another about a personal problem and hears in response, 'I know how you feel' or 'the same thing happens to me.' The resulting 'troubles talk' reinforces the connection between them.

Asian cultures... place great value on avoiding open expression of disagreement and conflict because they emphasize harmony.

I wouldn't say that it's hard for sisters to treat each other with respect. Many do.

There is probably no such thing as a level playing field in political campaigns.

It's an interesting point about sisters not getting the same attention as parents and children, and even brothers. I suspect it's just because women didn't count that much and weren't the ones writing the accounts.