The variationist approach to sociolinguistics began during the 1960s, says Tagliamonte (linguistics, U. of Toronto), but the methods for engaging in it have been passed down from teacher to student and never systematically collected and published. She changes all that here. Her topics include the sociolinguistic interview, the linguistic variable, distributional analysis, interpreting results, and finding a story. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A comprehensive 'how to' guide to the practical analysis of language variation in a social context.
The study of how language varies in social context, and how it can be analyzed and accounted for, are the key goals of sociolinguistics. Until now, however, the actual tools and methods have been largely passed on through 'word of mouth', rather than being formally documented. This is the first comprehensive 'how to' guide to the formal analysis of sociolinguistic variation. It shows step-by-step how the analysis is carried out, leading the reader through every stage of a research project from start to finish. Topics covered include fieldwork, data organization and management, analysis and interpretation, presenting research results, and writing up a paper. Practical and informal, the book contains all the information needed to conduct a fully-fledged sociolinguistic investigation, and includes exercises, checklists, references and insider tips. It is set to become an essential resource for students, researchers and fieldworkers embarking on research projects in sociolinguistics.
