Sex Differences in Children's Conversation

Abstract

Sex differences in children's conversation are explored to determine if they exist and, if so, when they emerge. Forty preschool children were randomly assigned to groups (female-female, female-male, male-male) and were audio-taped in conversation while playing. Transcripts of their conversations were analyzed for interruptions, overlaps, lapses, gaps and number of initiated unit-types. Significant differences between heterogeneous and homogeneous groups were found for interruptions. Boys interrupted girls 2 to 1. Conversational sex differences seem to be acquired early in life, developing in conjunction with general conversational skills.