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.
Sociolinguistics is one of the central branches of modern linguistics and deals with the place of language in human societies. This second edition of Introducing Sociolinguistics 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. New topics covered include speaking style and stylisation, while current debates in areas like creolisation, globalisation and language death, language planning, and gender are reflected.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.Features:* Provides a solid foundation in all aspects of sociolinguistics and explores important themes such as power and inequality, 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 guidance.
Arvustused
The international team behind this new edition draws deeply on global scholarship. The book delivers exceptional technical and theoretical training with vivid and diverse data. It reflects the true breadth of the field spanning classic and new media, cultures, and insights in a fast-changing world. -- Devyani Sharma, University of Oxford
List of Tables, Maps and Figures
Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Phonetic Note to Readers
1. Clearing the Ground: Basic Issues, Concepts and Approaches
Rajend Mesthrie
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Relations between Language and Society
1.3 Prescriptivism
1.4 Standardisation
1.5 Speech, Sign, Writing and Digital Communication
1.6 Societies and Communities
1.7 Monolingualism and Multilingualism
1.8 Conclusion
Notes
2. Regional Dialectology
Rajend Mesthrie
2.1 Introduction
2.2 A Multilingual Project: The Linguistic Survey of India
2.3 Monolingual Dialectology in Europe
2.4 Modern Approaches to Dialect
2.5 Other Facets of Dialect Variation
2.6 Conclusion
Notes
3. Social Dialectology
Rajend Mesthrie
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Principles and Methods in Variationist Sociolinguistics
3.3 Fieldwork Methods in Variationist Sociolinguistics
3.4 More on Social Categories and Language
3.5 Sociolinguistics on Trial: An Application of Urban Dialectology
3.6 Conclusion
Notes
4. Language Variation and Change
Rebecca Lurie Starr
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Relationship between Variation and Change
4.3 Patterns of Change
4.4 Approaches to Studying Change
4.5 Social Factors and Language Change
4.6 Social Networks and Language Change
4.7 Other Factors in Change
4.8 Conclusion
5. Style and Stylistic Variation
Rebecca Lurie Starr
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Style, Register and Enregisterment
5.3 Attention Paid to Speech
5.4 Audience-Focused Approaches
5.5 The Third Wave Tradition and the Speaker-Focused Approach
5.6 Style and Social Groups: Communities of Practice
5.7 Stylisation and Language Crossing
5.8 Conclusion
6. Language Choice and Code-switching
Rajend Mesthrie and Joan Swann, with contributions by Barbara Mayor
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Language Choice in Multilingual Communities
6.3 Code-switching in Multilingual Communities
6.4 Code-switching and Script Play
6.5 Multilingual Ecologies: The Study of Linguistics Landscapes
6.6 From Code-switching to (Trans)Languaging
6.7 Conclusion
Notes
7. Language in Interaction
Joan Swann
7.1 Introduction
7.2 The Organisation of Everyday Conversation
7.3 Narrative and Voice
7.4 Long Conversations and Text Trajectories
7.5 Conclusion
Notes
8. Media, Modes, Mobilities
Caroline Tagg
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Media
8.3 Modes
8.4 Mobilities
8.5 Conclusion
Notes
9. Gender and Language Use
Joan Swann
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Women's and Men's Language
9.3 Language Variation and Change
9.4 Gender in Interaction
9.5 Contextualised Approaches: Performance and Performativity
9.6 Reconceptualisations: Intersectionality Bodies, Modes and Media, and the
Global South
9.7 Conclusion
Notes
10. Language Contact and its Outcomes
Rajend Mesthrie
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Contact, Borrowing and Lexical Creativity
10.3 Language Maintenance, Shift, Decline and Revival
10.4 Revitalising Endangered Languages
10.5 Pidgin and Creole Formation
10.6 Bilingual Mixed Languages
10.7 Conclusion
Notes
11. Globalisation and Language
Rebecca Lurie Starr
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Phenomena Associated with Globalisation
11.3 Globalisation, Media and Language Change
11.4 World Languages, World Englishes
11.5 Globalisation, Language and Tourism
11.6 Globalisation, Language and Music
11.7 Conclusion
12. Language and Power
Rajend Mesthrie
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Power
12.3 Critical Discourse Analysis
12.4 Critical Language Awareness in Action
12.5 Resistance to Powerful Language
12.6 Language and Symbolic Power
12.7 Coloniality and Decoloniality
12.8 Conclusion
Note
Bibliography
Glossary
Index
Rajend Mesthrie is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics and Senior Research Scholar at the University of Cape Town. He was Head of the Linguistics Section (1998 2009), and holder of an NRF research chair in migration, language, and social change. He was President of the Linguistics Society of Southern Africa (2002-2009) and President of the International Congress of Linguists (2013-2018). He is an elected honorary life member of SALALS (South African Linguistic and Applied Linguistics Society) and the LSA (Linguistic Society of America). He is a past co-editor of English Today (2008-2012). Amongst his book publications are Language in Indenture: a Sociolinguistic history of Bhojpuri-Hindi in South Africa (1992, reprinted. 2019), Introducing Sociolinguistics (with Swann, Deumert & Leap, Edinburgh University Press 2009), Language in South Africa (ed., 2002) and Youth Language Practices & Urban Language Contact in Africa (ed., with Hurst-Harosh & Brookes, 2021). Joan Swann is a Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Language and Communication in the School of Education at the Open University, UK.
