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Covering both traditional topics and innovative approaches, this textbook constitutes a comprehensive introduction to English sociolinguistics. Reflecting the field's breadth and diversity, it guides students through the development of research on language and society over the last sixty years, as well as global trends and related fields such as World Englishes, language politics, language and inequality, and translanguaging. It features practical activities, for both individual work and in-class discussion, as well as vignettes introducing specific case studies, additional information on 'out of the box' topics, key terms, and examples from around the world and various social settings. Inspiring, personal and authoritative interviews with leading sociolinguists conclude the book. Assuming only a basic understanding of the English sound system and its grammar, and supported online by additional activities and selected model answers, this is the ideal text for undergraduates wanting an accessible and modern introduction to the field.
List of contents
Preface; 1. English sociolinguistics: why it matters; 2. From dialectology to sociolinguistics: a short history; 3. Individuals, networks, communities, society: from variation to change; 4. English in contact: from code-switching to the birth of new varieties; 5. English historical sociolinguistics; 6. Interactional sociolinguistics; 7. Applied sociolinguistics; 8. Language planning and the law; 9. The sociolinguistics of globalisation; 10. A tribute to sociolinguist(ic)s; Appendix; Glossary; References; Index.
About the author
Daniel Schreier is Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Zurich. He has taught and researched in the United States, New Zealand and Germany, and held an Erskine Fellowship at the University of Canterbury (Christchurch, New Zealand). His research interests include varieties of English around the world, language variation and change, contact linguistics and sociolinguistics. He is author of several books on English in the South Atlantic, editor of books on language change in English, including written sources, has published some eighty articles, co-edited the journal English World-Wide (from 2013–2019) and is Co-Editor of the Cambridge Handbook of World Englishes.
Summary
Comprehensive, state-of-the-art introduction for undergraduates, including traditional topics and innovative approaches. Covers the development of research on language and society over the last 60 years, global trends and related fields such as World Englishes, language politics, and translanguaging, all supported by case studies and activities.
Foreword
A lively and pedagogically rich undergraduate introduction to English sociolinguistics, encompassing traditional and innovative approaches.
