Sociolinguistics
The Study of Speakers' Choices

This new and updated textbook gives students a coherent view of the complex interaction of language and society.

Florian Coulmas (Author)

9781107037649, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 August 2013

317 pages, 33 b/w illus. 2 maps 20 tables
25.3 x 17.6 x 1.8 cm, 0.79 kg

'… a well-written compendium, providing readers with a concise, yet elaborate description of sociolinguistic research … The topics addressed are broad and wide-sweeping, showing the diversity of sociolinguistic research while at the same time making each arena seem accessible to the novice researcher. It was a pleasant read, informative, and extremely useful. … an excellent book.' Brad Miller, Journal of Sociolinguistics

Why do we speak the way we do? What are the social factors that influence our choices of expression? This best-selling introduction to the study of language and society encourages students to think about these fundamental questions, asking how and why we select from the vast range of different words, accents, varieties and languages available to us. In this new and updated edition, students are taken step-by-step through the analysis of linguistic expressions, speech varieties and languages in complex settings. Enriched with recent findings from different languages and speech communities around the world, this comprehensive textbook equips students with knowledge of the main concepts and gives them a coherent view of the complex interaction of language and society. • 'Questions for Discussion' help students understand how speakers' choices are conditioned by the society in which they live • New to this edition is a rich repertoire of online resources and further reading, enabling students to investigate more deeply and advance their learning • Includes a topical new chapter on research ethics, guiding students on the ethical questions involved in sociolinguistic research.

1. Introduction: notions of language
Part I. Micro-choices: 2. Standard and dialect: social stratification as a factor of linguistic choice
3. Gendered speech: sex as a factor of linguistic choice
4. Communicating across generations: age as a factor of linguistic choice
5. Choice and change
6. Politeness: cultural dimensions of linguistic choice
Part II. Macro-choices: 7. Code-switching: linguistic choices across language boundaries
8. Diglossia and bilingualism: functional restrictions on language choice
9. Language spread, shift and maintenance: how groups choose their language
10. Language and identity: individual, social, national
11. Language planning: communication demands, public choice, utility
12. Select letters: a major divide
13. The language of choice
14. Research ethics.

Subject Areas: Sociolinguistics [CFB], Linguistics [CF]