Communicating Misunderstandings
Gray and Tannen’s writings help to understand communication on a higher level than most people are familiar with. Each writers’ work focuses on a different form of communication; Tannen focuses on the different communication styles between men and woman, and Gray focuses on the way men and woman interpret each others communication styles. Both separate, into black and white, different communication styles, and evaluate the consequences of these differences. Ultimately, one final assumption can be drawn from both writers: Men and woman misunderstand each other due to differences in the way they communicate. Men and woman have different communication backgrounds. A man’s motive for communicating often involves competing in some way for woman.