A study examined traditional Hindi songs typically sung by women during north Indian weddings, using pragmatic and semantic analysis. Some historical and cultural background for the practice of women's singing at weddings is offered. It is suggested that gender roles are defined and regulated through the language of this speech event, and that participants are socialized accordingly. Song types and text types analyzed include expressions of family ties and relationships, insults, and statements of expected behaviors and attitudes. Vocabulary, language formality, use of grammatical constructions, and use of dialogue were examined. Results indicate that the songs' texts not only depict women as devalued, obedient, devoted, serving objects, but also acculturate women to accept this role. The wedding rites define relationships and expectations, and the ceremony pressures participants to conform to these norms. It is concluded that interaction of signs and symbols that make up rites and languages thus defines and regulates the social construction of gender roles and inscribes in members' minds the rules that govern these aspects of their culture. (Author/MSE)