Qualitative Methods in Sociolinguistics

by Johnstone, Barbara

• ISBN13: 9780195133974
• ISBN10: 0195133978
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-23
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Qualitative Methods in Sociolinguistics is the only book on qualitative research methods designed especially for readers doing research on language and society. It provides a brief, accessible introduction to general theoretical and practical questions about research and also covers theprincipal means of selecting, collecting, and analyzing data for interpretive sociolinguistic work. Topics discussed include the historical context of contemporary sociolinguistic methodology, the development of research questions, standards of evidence, research ethics, ethnography, discourseanalysis, and strategies for writing articles and essays. In each chapter the author considers both field methods and analytical methods, illustrating the approaches by describing studies that have employed them. Exercises, ideas for discussion, and suggestions for further reading enhance the textand provide starting points for student research projects. Clearly written and comprehensible to students at all levels, this unique work is an ideal supplementary text for courses in sociolinguistics, language and culture, and field methods. It is also a helpful reference for anyone contemplatingsociolinguistic research on any level.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(5)
Summary	5	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	5	(1)
Methodology in Historical Context	6	(14)
Field Methods in American Dialect Geography	6	(4)
Field Methods and ``Discovery Procedures'' in Descriptive Linguistics	10	(5)
Analytical Methods in Historical/Comparative Linguistics	15	(1)
General Themes	16	(1)
Discussion Questions	17	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	19	(1)
Thinking About Methodology	20	(19)
What Is Research?	20	(2)
What Are Data?	22	(2)
What Does ``Empirical'' Mean?	24	(1)
What Makes a Good Research Question?	25	(9)
What Is ``Qualitative'' Research?	34	(3)
Summary	37	(1)
Discussion Questions	37	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	38	(1)
Some Legal and Ethical Issues	39	(19)
Researchers and Researched	40	(11)
Researchers and Resources	51	(2)
The Uses of Results	53	(2)
Discussion Questions	55	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	57	(1)
Standards of Evidence: How Do You Know When You're Right?	58	(13)
Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research	61	(3)
Evaluating Competing Interpretations	64	(4)
Summary	68	(1)
Discussion Questions	69	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	70	(1)
Thinking: Introspection and Intuition	71	(9)
What Is Intuition? What Is Introspection?	71	(2)
Introspective Research in Sociolinguistics: An Example	73	(2)
Roles for Intuition in Sociolinguistics?	75	(3)
Intuitions About Competence	76	(1)
Intuitive Leaps	77	(1)
Discussion Questions	78	(2)
Looking: Participant Observation	80	(23)
What Is Participant Observation? What Is Ethnography?	81	(2)
Ethnography in Sociolinguistics	83	(1)
Doing Ethnography: Some Preliminary Issues	84	(4)
Starting Out: Field Methods for Participant Observation	88	(5)
Making Sense: Focusing Fieldwork and Analytical Methods	93	(7)
Summary	100	(1)
Discussion Questions	101	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	102	(1)
Reading and Listening: Discourse Analysis	103	(27)
Recording Discourse	104	(7)
Kinds of Conversational Data	111	(4)
Transcribing	115	(6)
Using Written Texts	121	(2)
Analytical Approaches	123	(3)
Discourse Is Constrained by the World	124	(1)
Discourse Is Constrained by Language	124	(1)
Discourse Is Constrained by Speakers/Writers/Signers, Addressees, Audiences	125	(1)
Discourse Is Constrained by Prior Discourse	125	(1)
Discourse Is Shaped by Its Media of Production and Reception	126	(1)
Discourse Is Shaped by People's Purposes	126	(1)
Summary	126	(1)
Discussion Questions	127	(2)
Suggestions for Further Reading	129	(1)
Writing	130	(15)
The Article	130	(8)
Abstract	131	(1)
Introduction	131	(3)
Literature Review	134	(1)
Methodology	135	(1)
Findings	135	(1)
Discussion	136	(2)
Other Genres	138	(1)
The Grammar of Particularity	139	(2)
Summary	141	(1)
Discussion Questions	142	(1)
Suggestions for Further Reading	142	(3)
References	145	(13)
Index	158