Introducing Sociolinguistics

by Meyerhoff; Miriam

• ISBN13: 9780415399470
• ISBN10: 0415399475
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 9/19/2006
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Introducing Sociolinguistics provides a solid, up-to-date appreciation of the interdisciplinary nature of the field. It covers foundation issues, recent advances and current debates-presenting familiar or classic data in new ways, and supplementing the familiar with fresh examples from a wide range of languages and social settings. It clearly explains the patterns and systems that underlie language variation in use, as well as the ways in which alternations between different language varieties index personal style, social power and national identity. Individual chapters cover: Social dialects and individual style. Language attitudes. Politeness Multilingualism and language choice. Real time and apparent time change in language. Social class, social networks and communities of practice Gender Language and dialect contact. Every chapter includes: exercises that enable readers to engage critically with the text; break out boxes making connections between sociolinguistics and linguistic or socialtheory; and brief, lively add-ons guaranteed to make the book a memorable and enjoyable read. With a full glossary of terms and suggestions for further reading, this text gives students all the tools they need for an excellent command of sociolinguistics.

Author Biography

Miriam Meyerhoff is Professor of Sociolinguistics at the University of Edinburgh.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

List of Tables

List of Figures

List of Sounds and Symbols

Maps

Introduction to Using this Book

Introducing and Understanding Sociolinguistics

Variation and Style

Language Attitudes

Being Polite as a Variable in Speech

Multilingualism and Language Choice

Real Time and Apparent Time

Social Class

Social Networks and Communities of Practice

Gender

Language Contact

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Notes on the Exercises

Glossary

References

Index

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