ABSTRACT
The last two decades have been witness to an explosion of research on linguistic features characteristic of dominance and power or the lack thereof. This explosion has been fueled by scholars especially interested in sex-and/or gender-linked differences in interaction behaviors reflective of dominance, leadership, influence, and power. Although sex and gender have received the most attention, variables such as status, context, personality, relational distance, and ontogeny have been examined relative to the acquisition, maintenance, and perception of dominance, influence, and power. Specifically, this chapter examines research directed at illuminating the characteristics and effects of language typically associated with or perceived as dominant and powerful, offers a methodological and theoretical/conceptual analysis and critique of that body of literature, and provides some rather specific directions for future research and suggestions for theoretical grounding.
