NPR: Authors
Solving the Mystery of Mother-Daughter Speak
by Susan Stamberg
Interview with Deborah Tannen on her book
You're Wearing That?
Link to audio file and chapter 1 of the book:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5170927

Vocabulary:
to turn to
linguist
Deborah Tannen
to argue that
to take on
special correspondent
title
connection
intimate
complex
loaded
the glue that holds...together
to spend time Ving
personal
to make one's way through a minefield
topic
to step on each other's toes
to establish
a few of your bona fides
psychologist
psychotherapist
counselor
advice book
to exist
to know I'm not alone
we're not the only ones
to get at s.t. through s.t.
there's no...under the stars
to be encoded in s.t.
to focus on
"the big three"
to scrutinize s.o. for
weight
to like s.o.'s hair long
to criticize
to let s.t. drop
without missing a beat
motherly
to turn s.t. to s.o.
aggressive
caring
criticizing
to be bought with the same coinage
skirt
to look at the details
over and over
to pick on s.o.
to copy out of a book
misunderstood
exchange (conversation)		why don't you be the daughter...
to be worked up about
election
to volunteer
swing states
to go down (south)
passionate about
pauses
a few beats
to be in a funk (in an odd mood)
excited about s.t.
right there
to share s.t.
positive
to give praise
to go on to
present good state
previous bad state
to react
I can't believe you said that!
this isn't about you
to zero in on
not to have the words
aspect
to remind s.o. of s.t.
to stop there
gee
terrific
to leave s.t.
frumpy
at the heart of
to demand that s.o. be
to be grown-ups most of the time
on some level
touching
towards the end of her life
weak
to take a nap on the couch
rustle
cane
blanket
to adjust
precious memory
protective
to hold onto
to be indulgent
encroaching
to expand
perilous
Georgetown University


Listening comprehension questions:
1. Explain what, according to Tannen, is encoded in the question "You're wearing that?"
2. a. What does "loaded" mean in this context? b. What is a "swing state"?
3. Why is it often like "making one's way through a minefield" when mothers and daughters talk?
4. What advice does Tannen offer for mothers when they are making comments to their daughters?
5. Describe the incident in which Tannen's mother expressed her caring toward Tannen when the mother was very old.
6. Do you think any of Tannen's views might have been different if she had had a daughter herself? How?
7. Can you identify with any of the points discussed in this interview? If you are male, do you think there is anything similar to what is described in this interview in your interactions with either your mother or father?

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