It's our tendency to approach every problem as if it were a fight between two sides. We see it in headlines that are always using metaphors for war. It's a general atmosphere of animosity and contention that has taken over our public discourse.
More Quotes from Deborah Tannen:
For most women, the language of conversation is primarily a language of rapport: a way of establishing connections and negotiating relationships.Deborah Tannen
When people realize that in the long run you may be turning off the audiences more, even though they will look temporarily--in the end they turn away, we really need to develop other metaphors and not talk about two sides, but talk about all sides.
Deborah Tannen
The repercussions are so deep because our responses are emotional. When you think you're being snubbed, what does that mean It means your 'humanness' is not being acknowledged. When you feel you're being imposed on, your reaction of 'Give me some space' is so automatic.
Deborah Tannen
Part of the reason (motherly advice) bugs us as daughters is because our mothers are so powerful in our lives. They loom like giants. The reason mothers keep at it is because they're so powerless. They cannot get you to do what is so obvious to them you should do.
Deborah Tannen
We tend to look through language and not realize how much power language has.
Deborah Tannen
It was just so obvious that everyone wanted to talk about the mother-daughter relationship. I think it's because women really are struggling, because it's a very important relationship in your life.
Deborah Tannen
Readers Who Like This Quotation Also Like:
Based on Topics: War & Peace QuotesBased on Keywords: animosity, contention
I got arrested for signing autographs. Signing a little girl's autograph got me arrested.
Michael Taylor
Illness has always brought me nearer to a state of grace.
Abbe Pierre
I was particularly good at math and science.
William Standish Knowles