SexismintheEnglishLanguagethroghAsymmetricalPhenomenon英语毕业论文.docx

Sexism in the English Language through Asymmetrical Phenomenon　　Abstract：This thesis focuses on the asymmetrical phenomenon, which reflected in the extensive usage of masculine words, the marked female words and unmarked male words, positive words for males and negative words for females, and etc. Finally, the thesis puts forward some ways of fighting against sexism. Sexism is a society problem, which can be traced to its historical and cultural sources. In order to achieve non-sexism in language，social sexism should be eliminated first. Key Word：sexism; asymmetrical phenomenon; masculine words; derogation of female words 　　1.Introduction　　As a product of society and one special communicative methods of human, language reflects all the aspects of human society naturally. Language isn’t sexism in itself, but when referring to language and sex, people immediately think of sexism. Sexism was put forth after the discovery of linguistic asymmetry. The asymmetrical phenomenon in English language is theoretically based on Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which has a great influence on the research between language and culture. 　　2. Reflection of asymmetrical phenomenon in English language 　　Linguistic asymmetry is one of the traditional approaches to the study of the sexism against women in language. Hellinger(1989)in her article “Revising the Patriarchal Paradigm Language Changed Feminist Language Politics”[1] (Quoted from Tang Jinwen, 2002) looks back over a rather long period of time concerning the research of sexism against women in language. 　　2.1. Asymmetrical phenomenon reflected in masculine language as standard whereas feminine language as subordinate 　　2.1.1 .the extensive usage of masculine words 　　That “men embrace women” is a relatively recent rationalization in the history of the language. In 1746，John Kirkby formulated his “Eighty-eight Grammatical Rules.”[2] (Quoted from Zhu Li, 2004). These are the product of Mr. Kirkby’s own imagination. Rule No.21 stated that the