Language in the USA: Themes for the Twenty-first Century

by Edited by Edward Finegan , John R. Rickford

• ISBN13: 9780521777476
• ISBN10: 052177747X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-28
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This textbook provides a comprehensive survey of current language issues in the USA. Through a series of specially commissioned chapters by leading scholars, it explores the nature of language variation in the United States and its social, historical and political significance. The book is divided into three sections. Part I, American English, explores the history and distinctiveness of American English, and regional and social varieties. Part II, Other Language Varieties, looks at multilingualism and linguistic diversity. Part III, The Sociolinguistic Situation in the USA includes chapters on attitudes to language, language and education, Rap and Hip Hop, and adolescent language. It also explores issues such as the Ebonics controversy and the English Only movement. Clear, accessible and broad in its coverage, this book will be welcomed by students across the disciplines of English, Linguistics, Communication, American Studies and Popular Culture, as well as anyone interested more generally in language-related issues.

Table of Contents

Part I. American English: 1. American English: its origins and history Richard W. Bailey

2. The distinctiveness of American English Edward Finegan

3. Regional American dialects William Kretzschmar

4. Social varieties of American English Walt Wolfram

5. African-American vernacular English Lisa Green

6. The dictionary of American regional English Joan Houston Hall

Part II. Other Language Varieties in the USA: 7. Multilingualism and non-English mother tongues Joshua A Fishman

8. Creole languages in the United States

forging new identities Patricia Nichols

9. Native American languages Akira Y. Yamamoto and Ofelia Zepeda

10. Spanish in the northeast Ana Celia Zentella

11. Spanish in the southwest Carmen Silva-Corvalá

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12. American sign language Cecil Lucas and Clayton Valli

13. Asian American voices Thom Huebner and Linda Uyechi

14. Linguistic diversity and English language acquisition Robert Bayley

Part III. The Sociolinguistic Situation in the USA: 15. Language ideology and language prejudice Rosina Lippi-Green

16. Ebonics and its controversy John Baugh

17. Language policy and English-only Terrence G. Wiley

18. Language and Education Lily Wong Fillmore

19. Adolescent language Penelope Eckert

20. Slang Connie Eble

21. Rap and hip hop H. Samy Alim

22. Language, gender and sexuality Mary Bucholtz

23. Language and identity in American literature James Peterson

24. The language of doctors and patients Cynthia Hagstrom

25. The language of cyberspace Denise E. Murray

26. Language attitudes to US speech Dennis R. Preston.