Inspirational Quotes by Deborah Tannen (American Linguist)

Deborah Frances Tannen (b.1945) is an American linguist, professor, and author, best known for her research on communication styles, gender differences, and interpersonal discourse. Her work has shaped public understanding of language and relationships, making her a leading voice in sociolinguistics.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Tannen earned a B.A. in English literature from Harpur College, followed by an M.A. from Wayne State University. She later pursued a PhD in linguistics at the University of California-Berkeley (1979,) focusing on conversational style and discourse analysis. A Distinguished University Professor at Georgetown University since 1979, she has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic, and appeared on PBS, NPR, and CNN.

Her most famous book, You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation (1990,) became a New York Times bestseller, remaining on the list for nearly four years. Other notable works include Talking from 9 to 5 (1994,) on workplace communication, The Argument Culture (1998,) critiquing adversarial discourse, and You Were Always Mom’s Favorite! (2009,) on sibling relationships. Her memoir Finding My Father (2020) explores family and identity.

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