Deborah Tannen Research Paper

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English 111 October 4, 2011 Deborah Tannen Deborah Tannen was born June 7, 1945; she is a professor at Georgetown University. Deborah Tannen is one of only two in Georgetown University's College of Arts and Sciences who hold the distinguished rank of University Professor. Deborah Tannen’s main studies are linguistics, and behavioral science and she is also a best-selling author. Her books focus on men and women and how they communicate between each other in the work place and at home. She has written for major newspapers and magazines like The New York Times, Newsweek, Time, USA Today, People, The Washington Post, and The Harvard Business Review. Tannen has five honorary doctorates and is a member of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation Board.…show more content…
With a fight to win mentality, it makes us deny information that upholds the other side's views and say what will benefit our views. Tannen uses various evidence to support the main idea. She says that this type of culture causes people to distort the truth and causes us to waste time” fighting with each other rather than fighting for a cause.”(Tannen) “Balance, Debate, Listening to both sides. Who could question these noble American traditions? Yet today, these principles have been distorted. Without thinking we have plunged headfirst into what I call the Argument Culture” (Tannen403) The argument culture invades every aspect of our lives from our personal relationships, gridlocks in Washington,” distortion of truth, lawsuits and a win at all cost attitude.”(Tannen) Deborah Tannen expresses that the argument culture urges us to approach the world in” an adversarial frame of mind.”(Tannen 404) I agree with the statement in that we are urged to mistrust anyone different or people are stereotyped so that we feel defensive which promotes an adversarial frame of mind. Tannen provides powerful insight on how we are influenced daily to believe in winning at all cost. Tannen sites the sorry state of public forums are flooded by discord, use of war metaphors, and do or die thinking,” smashing heads…show more content…
Know what you believe in and be gracious in conversation with others. Listening to other viewpoints does not mean you agree but you may be able to understand how the other person feels. I feel taking the time to listen quietly to others is a first step in our private lives to prevent arguments or heated debates. I was checking the Thesaurus for ideas on replacement words for this essay and ironically enough this is what I found: discussion= conversation, debate, argument, dialogue, chat, talk Argument= quarrel, fight, disagreement, dispute, row, spat, squabble, contention This is amazing, apparently we can choose different words but all comes full circle and we land back in the argument culture. The first step is to follow Tannin's advice and stop and look at all sides. Tannen uses a persuasive and authoritive tone and is obviously a master with words and metaphors. I believe Tannen has had a positive influence on her audience and given everyone a lot to think about. When I first read Tannen I thought people would not change and liked to argue and debate but after reading fellow classmates drafts I came to realize one person like Tannen can make a
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