Introducing Language and Society

An accessible and entertaining textbook that introduces students to sociolinguistics in a real-world context, with issues they care about.

Rodney H. Jones (Author), Christiana Themistocleous (Author)

9781108712859, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 3 February 2022

250 pages
24.4 x 17 x 1.3 cm, 0.52 kg

'Now that I know his book exists, I can't imagine teaching without it. Language and Society provides a powerful guide to the study of language in interaction, departing in important ways from traditional textbooks on Sociolinguistics. Each lucid chapter synthesizes ultra-up-to-date multidisciplinary research from around the globe, across languages and media, and offers engaging activities and project suggestions for students that encourage mini forays into their own research on language and society.' Betsy Rymes, University of Pennsylvania/Graduate School of Education

This accessible and entertaining textbook introduces students to both traditional and more contemporary approaches to sociolinguistics in a real-world context, addressing current social problems that students are likely to care about, such as racism, inequality, political conflict, belonging, and issues around gender and sexuality. Each chapter includes exercises, case studies and ideas for small-scale research projects, encouraging students to think critically about the different theories and approaches to language and society, and to interrogate their own beliefs about language and communication. The book gives students a grounding in the traditional concepts and techniques upon which sociolinguistics is built, while also introducing new developments from the last decade, such as translanguaging, multimodality, superdiversity, linguistic landscapes and language and digital media. Students will also have online access to more detailed examples, links to video and audio files, and more challenging exercises to strengthen their skills and confidence as sociolinguists.

Introduction
1. Imagining languages and their speakers
2. Resources and repertories
3. Language variation
4. Modes and media of communication
5. Code mixing, crossing and translanguaging
6. Style and identity
7. Language attitudes, mocking and appropriation
8. language in the material world
9. Mobility, contact and flows
Appendix. A sociolinguist's toolkit.

Subject Areas: Social interaction [JFFP], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Language: history & general works [CBX]