Letters to the Editor
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The Issue is Not Number of Words
There are more important issues than word counts when it comes to an objective examination of the use of language and voice in interpersonal relationships by the sexes. How often does one interrupt the other? How insistent are we in controlling the topic? How often and thoroughly do we respond to the messages, explicit or implicit, conveyed by our partner? What about the content of our communications? How intent are we to deepen the truth content of our words? Or are our choices determined solely by the degree of control over the conversation and our partner we may be able to attain? When the research is finally done, and these questions answered, I think we will find that, in one measure at least, women will win (and I mean that in the best sense of the word) hands down.