Power, Power in Language and its Signs

Power is a social phenomenon. It refers to the ability of its holders to compliance or obedience of other individuals to their will. This superiority is caused by different factors including social role, sex or even special style of speech. This study aims at presenting comprehensive definition of power, its role in terms of different speech styles of language and its signs. Therefore we can measure power in language more carefully, recognizing new signs. Actually, there are special linguistic signs which distinguish powerful speech style from powerless speech style. These signs are linguistic factors which play role in making these styles. Powerful speech style means to influence and persuade others. This kind of speech style is produced by avoiding linguistic uncertainty variables (filler, pause…) and using some linguistic signs (like following standard accent, etc…). Powerless speech style (it is produced by using linguistic uncertainty variables like filler, pause, etc…) does not have this effect. In fact power in language means using powerful speech style or avoiding powerless speech style. Most linguistic uncertainty variables were introduced by Lakoff, Cameron, Holmes…. But "lengthening", "tag question (hear-oriented, speaker-oriented) " and "use of English word" are studied for the first time. In fact, we want to know if these three factors can be considered as linguistic uncertainty variables showing powerless speech style. Our sample research is 30 male mangers at the age of 30-40. The informants were interviewed and their speeches were analyzed, helping statistical analysis (SPSS), that is, the uncertainty linguistic variables were recognized in the interviews and analyzed if these mentioned signs can be considered as uncertainty linguistic variables. The research results showed "lengthening" and its different kinds are 1- Post graduate Student, in linguistics, Tarbiat Modarres University 18 / Pazand Quarterly one of the uncertainty linguistic variables showing powerless speech style. Tag question (speaker-oriented like؟ هن هگم) shows uncertainty or powerless speech style, but was not found in our informant's speeches. We can claim this kind of tag question is not a linguistic uncertainty variable in Persian language among managers. However, tag question (hear-oriented like هت􀑧سرد) shows certainty or powerful speech style and was found in the interviews we had with managers. "English words" was also recorded in the interviews, but this sign can not be one of the signs showing powerless speech style or uncertainty. The authors guess "Use of English word" can be jargon of our informants, managers.