YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND Women and Men in Conversation

Cultural differences compound gender polarities in people's attempts to communicate verbally. When we can learn to understand the different "languages" spoken to us, we can avoid hurt feelings and misunderstandings never intended by the speaker. Barbara Rosenblat treats this scholarly work as though it were, itself, a conversation among colleagues. Her widely acclaimed expertise in creating fictional characters serves well in Tannen's many examples of dialogue among and between adults and children and among people of different socio-geographical cultures. In the narrative passages, Rosenblat clearly "gets" what the author is trying to say, and makes sure we "get it" too. Her engaging tone perfectly matches Tannen's convincing text. R.P.L. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 03]