This wide-ranging reader is the first and only collection of the key essays in the study of Language and Gender. Edited by one of the pioneers in the field, it introduces students to the main topics by providing a selection of key papers written by leading figures in language and gender study. The book provides a vital student resource for all courses in language, gender and discourse analysis. The topics covered include: gender differences in pronunciation and grammar; gender differences in conversational practice; conversational dominance in mixed talk; same-sex talk; women's talk in the public domain; theoretical debates (gender or power? difference or dominance?). The Reader concludes with three key papers which suggest directions in which language and gender research might develop.