Final answer:
Speech in oral cultures varies across societies, with women often speaking more confrontationally and argumentatively, while men use more cooperative and ceremonial speech.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of speech in oral cultures vary across different societies and communities. One characteristic is that speech in oral cultures tends to be more confrontational and argumentative for women, while men are associated with more cooperative, euphemistic, and ceremonial speech. For example, in Madagascar and New Guinea, women are expected to speak in a confrontational style, while men use a more cooperative style. These differences in speech patterns are culturally relative and can vary from one oral culture to another.