Introducing Sociolinguistics

by Rajend Mesthrie, Joan Swann, Ana Deumert

Sociolinguistics is one of the central branches of modern linguistics and deals with the place of language in human societies. This introductory textbook expertly synthesises the main approaches to the subject. The book covers areas such as multilingualism, code-choice, language variation, dialectology, interactional studies, gender, language contact, language and inequality, and language and power. At the same time it provides an integrated perspective on these themes by examining sociological theories of human interaction. In this regard power and inequality are particularly significant. The book also contains two chapters on the applications of sociolinguistics (in education and in language policy and planning) and a concluding chapter on the sociolinguistics of sign language. Written collaboratively by teachers and scholars with first hand experience of sociolinguistic developments on four continents, this book provides the broadest introduction currently available to the central topics in sociolinguistics.Key Features* Provides a solid foundation in all aspects of sociolinguistics and explores important themes such as power and inequality and new themes such as sign language, gender and the internet* Well illustrated with maps, diagrams, inset boxes, drawings and cartoons* Accessibly written with the beginner in mind* Uses numerous examples from multilingual settings* Explains basic concepts, supported by a glossary* Further Reading lists, a full bibliography, and a section on 'next steps'provide valuable guidanceTopics Regional and Social Dialectology* Variation Studies* Language and Gender* Interactional Sociolinguistics* Multilingualism and Code Choice* Language Contact and Language Learning* Language and Power/Political Economy* Applied Sociolinguistics* Sociolinguistics of Sign Language Lecturers - Here's How This Book Will Help Your Students * It will give your students a solid fou

Genres: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Language, Textbooks

528 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 1999

Reviews

[Kajsa Hansson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really, really uninteresting. Perhaps if this had been the only material available for the course, but as it was now we had 'Language: Introductory Readings' as well which supplied everything needed. This book was terrible to read and I lost focus after a couple of pages only. Too much repetition of things from earlier years within English studies.

[Jason Chan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have decided not to pursue sociolinguistics after finishing this book...

[Guy Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable insightful guide.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am putting this because reading this took up half my life this semester.

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost nine years ago, I took a introductory linguistics course as part of my undergraduate degree. Maybe it was a phenomenal course and I just didn't realize it. Maybe I've absorbed a lot of the theories and issues of sociolinguistics as I've studied literature. But, for whatever reason, I felt like this book didn't really teach me much I didn't already know.

And I suspect that's simply because it's too introductory a textbook to use in a graduate-level class.

[Nelson Jaimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy-understanding topics with the help of funny comic extracts.
However it's kind of bulking a lot of information, more mental maps, tables and well-marked subtopics would make it more organized for an introductory book.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

read twice as i TAed for this class my final year of uni.

[Hans Henrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linguistics

[Moody213500]

nice book

[Belleza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book to get a general view and knowledge about sociolinguistics. It not only introduces the conceptual background, but also does illustrate the theories with well chosen examples.

[Chris Molette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, VERY thorough on its discussions. Excellently researched and grounded.

[Linda Hayashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankful for the generous references and cited examples in each chapter section.