Tannen (1990), in fact, considers communication differences to be so great they can be viewed as cross-cultural, as though women and men grew up in on two different planets. According to Tannen, "instead of different dialects they [males and females] speak different genderlects" (1990, p. 42). .

             The Event.

             Every Thursday evening local people gather at Clear Lake Bar. The inside of the bar is knotty pine, dimly lit, and cozy. Three walls are covered with a collection of antique license plates. A sign over the door says "You don't need to talk about yourself-we'll do that for you after you leave." The fourth wall has large picture windows looking out to the lake and old cast iron traps and snow gear hanging from the ceiling. A jukebox fills one corner and features old country music like Patsy Cline, Conrad Twitty, and George Jones songs. Next to the jukebox is a stuffed bobcat in a glass case. Along the front wall an antique shuffleboard stretches the length of the room with a scoreboard on the wall that is straight out of the 1940s. .

             My attention was drawn to two couples I'll call Caroline and Paul, and Roseanne and Doug. They are older people, locals, about the same age as my grandparents. I learned that the two couples attend this bar every week for games of shuffleboard, but usually more people come. Tonight, several are absent. The bartender/owner told me that sometimes the shuffleboard event takes on the character of a "town meeting" in which members of the community hash out community issues. On this particular night only two couples came.

             Before the men started their game, all four sat down together and discussed the garbage issue. It seems that garbage collection will soon be put on the tax roles in this area and will be very beneficial to the residents because it will be cheaper. Doug and Paul discussed the cost of having a private company do it. Paul said he paid $60 every three months and Doug said he also paid the same.