class project

I have a project for my English Linguistics class and, being a lesbian, decided to have a focus on orientation and language. So my question right now for everyone is a) is it okay with the moderators if I posted a survey here and b) if anyone on the boards would be willing to fill it out for me. I'm not going to cite your name in my paper, and if you want to message me the answers, that is fine too.. let me know what you all think, and I'll post the survey if it is okay with the moderators.

I'm fine with you posting a survey.

Okay, this is the survey.. You can fill it out in the thread, or message it to me, but I need all the surveys around 11/18/09 so I can use them in my project. Thank you all so much!

Age:

Gender:

Sexual orientation:

Do you feel you talk a certain way based on your orientation? Explain.



Do you talk differently to those who know your orientation? Explain.



Which are you more likely to say:
a- Who do you like?
b- Whom do you like?

Which are you more likely to say:
a- He’s not a very good actor, is he?
b- He is a terrible actor.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- Would you please have the report done by Friday?
b- Finish the report by Friday.

How likely are you to apologize for bumping into someone (1-10, 10 being very likely, 1 being not very likely)?


Which are you more likely to say:
a- The tenant needs to pay their rent.
b- The tenant must pay his or her rent.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to answer a question once you have already answered one?

Which are you more likely to say:
a- I like your sweater.
b- That’s a nice sweater.

Do you usually make eye contact with the person you are talking to when discussing something serious?

Age: 20

Gender: M

Sexual orientation: Gay

Do you feel you talk a certain way based on your orientation? Explain.
No. I talk weird because I am weird.


Do you talk differently to those who know your orientation? Explain.
No, I just don't talk about my orientation to those who don't know it. I may be more candid with those who know my orientation, since obviously I don't have anything to hide form them, but that's all.


Which are you more likely to say:
a- Who do you like?
b- Whom do you like?
A, and I am a Grammar Nazi of strictest standards. Some rules are just pointless, though.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- He’s not a very good actor, is he?
b- He is a terrible actor.
It depends on the quality of the acting. If he's terrible, I will say so. If he's kind of bad, I'll say he's not that good. I am very frank.
If you need an answer, probably b, as I don't usually ask for confirmation of my opinion from others.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- Would you please have the report done by Friday?
b- Finish the report by Friday.
A combination of the two. I would still say please, but I would not pose it as a question. Like "Please have the report to me by Friday."

How likely are you to apologize for bumping into someone (1-10, 10 being very likely, 1 being not very likely)?

10. I would apologize, briefly, but not profusely.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- The tenant needs to pay their rent.
b- The tenant must pay his or her rent.
A. It's firm, but not demanding.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to answer a question once you have already answered one?
I'm taking a survey, so... 10

Which are you more likely to say:
a- I like your sweater.
b- That’s a nice sweater.
A.

Do you usually make eye contact with the person you are talking to when discussing something serious?

On and off. When I'm thinking, no, but when I'm talking to them, yes.


Hope that helps :)

Age: 22

Gender: F

Sexual orientation: Lesbian

Do you feel you talk a certain way based on your orientation? Explain.

Um, I don't feel I do, slang aside. I spent my adolescence fairly ingrained in the slash community which certainly shaped the way I spoke and thought, but I'm not really sure if that counts as a part of my orientation without proper debate over what was learnt and what was simply me. So, short answer, yes and no.


Do you talk differently to those who know your orientation? Explain.

Yes, mostly because I tend to assume anyone I know relatively well knows that I'm gay, so anyone who doesn't tends to be either a stranger or an acquiantance who will eventually ask and then will know, or a relative I haven't seen since I was a toddler.


Which are you more likely to say:
a- Who do you like?
b- Whom do you like?

If I'm not in a professional or scholarly place, A. My professors must never know.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- He’s not a very good actor, is he?
b- He is a terrible actor.

B, although I might not say 'terrible' unless I really thought he was.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- Would you please have the report done by Friday?
b- Finish the report by Friday.

I would say 'please', but B.

How likely are you to apologize for bumping into someone (1-10, 10 being very likely, 1 being not very likely)?

10, I always apologise.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- The tenant needs to pay their rent.
b- The tenant must pay his or her rent.

A combination of A and B: I'd use 'needs to' and 'his or her'. It just sounds rude otherwise.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to answer a question once you have already answered one?

10, I have no problem answering questions. Well, unless the same person asked me the same question several times in a row, than I might be a little annoyed.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- I like your sweater.
b- That’s a nice sweater.

A

Do you usually make eye contact with the person you are talking to when discussing something serious?

That really depends on how I feel about the topic. but usually, yes.

Thank you both! Even if I don't get any more surveys, you still have been very helpful.

Age: 21

Gender: F

Sexual orientation: Lesbian

Do you feel you talk a certain way based on your orientation? Explain. Nope. I talk like myself...aka dorky.



Do you talk differently to those who know your orientation? Explain. I don't think so.



Which are you more likely to say: A
a- Who do you like?
b- Whom do you like?

Which are you more likely to say: A
a- He’s not a very good actor, is he?
b- He is a terrible actor.

Which are you more likely to say: A
a- Would you please have the report done by Friday?
b- Finish the report by Friday.

How likely are you to apologize for bumping into someone (1-10, 10 being very likely, 1 being not very likely)? 9


Which are you more likely to say: A
a- The tenant needs to pay their rent.
b- The tenant must pay his or her rent.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to answer a question once you have already answered one? 8

Which are you more likely to say: A
a- I like your sweater.
b- That’s a nice sweater.

Age: 18

Gender: F

Sexual orientation: lesbian

Do you feel you talk a certain way based on your orientation? Explain.
I think I may choose my words more carefully, but I just talk the way I've taught myself to talk.


Do you talk differently to those who know your orientation? Explain.
I feel like I'm more open with them. People who don't know my orientation are usually strangers. I get nervous around strangers. And everyone.


Which are you more likely to say:
a- Who do you like?
b- Whom do you like?
A., but if I'm feeling overtly frivolous I'd say B.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- He’s not a very good actor, is he?
b- He is a terrible actor.
B. or horrid. or hiddioderous.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- Would you please have the report done by Friday?
b- Finish the report by Friday.
Neither, really. I'd probably combine the two. "Please, finish the report by Friday."
How likely are you to apologize for bumping into someone (1-10, 10 being very likely, 1 being not very likely)?
10.

Which are you more likely to say:
a- The tenant needs to pay their rent.
b- The tenant must pay his or her rent.
A.

On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to answer a question once you have already answered one?
8

Which are you more likely to say:
a- I like your sweater.
b- That’s a nice sweater.
A

Do you usually make eye contact with the person you are talking to when discussing something serious?
If I'm the one talking there's intervals where I am and I'm not. If they're talking I look them in the eyes.

Thank you all so much for helping me out! I did end up getting an A on the project, AND managed to plug our school's GSA while I was at it. :p