Global Social Sciences Review (GSSR) URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).01 DOI: 10.31703/gssr.202 1(VI-I).01 Citation: Akbar, F. A., Khan, M. Y., & Chaudhary, F. (2021). Imperialistic A Study of Genderlect features in “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E L James. Global Social Sciences Review, VI(I), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2021(VI-I).01 A Study of Genderlect features in “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E L James Fasiha Ali Akbar * Mamona Yasmin Khan † Fariha Chaudhary ‡ Gendered language not only focuses on what is said but also includes how to express that thought. This paper attempts to investigate the differences between the speech style of men and women. Data of ten passages have been collected from the novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” by E L James and analyzed qualitatively by using Deborah Tannen’s Difference approach. The results of this study show that there are notable differences that distinguish men’s communication pattern from women because of different established norms and culture of that society. Moreover, this study can be helpful to bridge the communication gulf between the two genders. Furthermore, this study can reveal to maintain a healthy atmosphere and raises awareness in society by understanding their different style of utterances. In addition, it also proves very helpful for the language teachers teaching to teach the learners according to their culture. • Vol. VI, No. I (Winter 2021) • Pages: 1 ‒ 7 • p- ISSN: 2520-0348 • e-ISSN: 2616-793X • ISSN-L: 2520-0348 Key Words: Genderlect, Communication patterns, Rapport talk, Report talk, Established norms, Language and Gender, the communication gulf Introduction Communication is a very important process in the life of human beings. Woods (2009) opines that communication is a productive and organized method in which two different meanings are constructed in the conversation of humans with some patterns. In the current studies, it is asserted that men and women speak in different ways because of their socio-cultural behavior. Communication does not only refer to what do you mean, but it also includes how you say something, which varies from person to person (Tannen, 1995). Communication occurs by some linguistic choices or sometimes by using certain symbols and body language made by both male and female. She further opines that language is an accomplished practice which simply means that our thinking and speaking is highly influenced by our cultural beliefs. So, language is the only way to express their feelings and emotions in front of others. In ancient times, Jesperson (1922 ) states that men have different ways of expressing one thing as compared to women because women understand everything but do not pronounce it * Research Scholar Department of English, The Women University Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. † Assistant professor, Department of English, The Women University Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. Email: mamonnakhan1234@gmail.com ‡ Assistant Professor, Department of English, BZU, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. as that of men. Moreover, he opines that women use some typical words and phrases in their conversation while men never use them. So, it seems that women have a different language that man in conversation. The conversation is a type of discourse that has no specific rules, but it is composed and governed by a number of inherent conventions in the social use of language (Carroll, 2008). Likewise, Tannen (1990) argues that communication is actually a discussion in which most men try to achieve a central position while talking and defend themselves from the attempts of others (p. 24). In addition, the conversation includes a gendered way of talking in terms of suitability and drive meanings of different things according to context. Hence, gender is the social identity of a person, which is reflected through different linguistics choices. Moreover, gender is something that a person performs in front of society because it is a socially constructed norm (Butler, 2011). Holmes (2006) states that people evaluate other’s attitude in terms of their usefulness in the context with a view of the Abstract