Synopses & Reviews
This comprehensive new edition of Wardhaugh’s textbook incorporates additional study features and numerous new and updated references to bring the book completely up-to-date, whilst maintaining the features that made the book so popular with lecturers and students: accessible coverage of a wide range of issues, clearly written, and with useful student study features.
- A fully revised new edition of Ronald Wardhaugh’s popular introduction to sociolinguistics, which now includes over 150 new and updated references and new study features throughout
- Features new “Explorations” sections in each chapter incorporating suggested readings, discussion sections, and exercises – all designed to encourage students to develop their own skills and ideas
- Reflects new developments in the field, providing greater focus on ideas such as identity, solidarity, and markedness
- Provides balanced coverage of a range of topics, including: language dialects, pidgins and Creoles, codes, bilingualism, speech communities, variation, words and culture, ethnographies, solidarity and politeness, talk and action, gender, disadvantage, and planning
- Comprehensive and accessible, it is the ideal introduction for students coming to sociolinguistics for the first time
Review
"In this revised and updated edition of his classic text, Wardaugh brings us a smartly revitalized presentation, including up to the minute, current advances in sociolinguistics. While
An Introduction to Sociolinguistics retains its comprehensive coverage and accessible style, it also presents students with a contemporary text that is sure to spark interest in the discipline."
–Alexandra D’Arcy, University of Canterbury
"Wardhaugh has long provided teachers and introductory students with a clear yet challenging introductory textbook that is prized by all who value broad understanding of the full scope of sociolinguistic study. This latest edition once again ensures that readers are up-to-date in even the most rapidly advancing areas of research, including language and identity and language and gender. In addition, it offers enhanced reader engagement through the inclusion of thought-provoking questions and hands-on exercises generously distributed throughout each chapter. Wardhaugh has long been a staple in my introductory sociolinguistics classes, and the text is now even more indespensible than ever."
–Natalie Schilling-Estes, Georgetown University
Synopsis
Ronald Wardhaugh’s
An Introduction to Sociolinguistics has been a cornerstone of courses in the field for over two decades, maintaining its popularity by combining clear and accessible coverage of a wide range of issues with useful student study features. This comprehensive sixth edition retains these strengths, but has also been updated throughout to reflect developments in the field. New chapter-by-chapter “explorations” sections have been added which encourage students to actively engage with tkey issues in sociolinguistics.
The sixth edition includes greater focus on ideas of identity, solidarity, and markedness, while the features that have made this work a classic – the balanced coverage of issues ranging from language dialects and variation, code-switching, bilingualism, and speech communities, to ethnographies, gender, and disadvantage – have been updated to reflect the latest research. Accessible and engaging, this is an ideal introduction for both undergraduates and graduate students with little or no background in sociolinguistics.
About the Author
"Comprehensively, the book provides a rich source of overviews of the field of sociolinguistics that will undoubtedly afford researchers and students in the area insightful knowledge evoking additional future dialogue and research." (
LINGUIST List, December 2010)
Praise for Previous Editions
“The standard text in advanced undergraduate and introductory graduate courses” (Language)
“Among the various introductions to sociolinguistics, this one certainly stands out in its comprehensiveness… it offers a wealth of relevant and correct information” (Sociolinguistica)
Table of Contents
Preface.
Acknowledgements.
1. Introduction
Knowledge of Language
Variation
Language and Society
Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language
Methodological Concerns
Overview
Further Reading
Part I: Languages and Communities:
2. Languages, Dialects, and Varieties
Language or Dialect?
Standardization
Regional Dialects
Social Dialects
Styles, Registers, and Beliefs
Further Reading
3. Pidgins and Creoles
Lingua Francas
Definitions
Distribution and Characteristics
Origins
From Pidgin to Creole and Beyond
Further Reading
4. Codes
Diglossia
Bilingualism and Multilingualism
Code-Switching
Accommodation
Further Reading
5. Speech Communities
Definitions
Intersecting Communities
Networks and Repertoires
Further Reading
Part II: Inherent Variety:
6. Language Variation
Regional Variation
The Linguistic Variable
Social Variation
Data Collection and Analysis
Further Reading
7. Some Findings and Issues
An Early Study
New York City
Norwich and Reading
A Variety of Studies
Belfast
Controversies
Further Reading
8. Change
The Traditional View
Some Changes in Progress
The Process of Change
Further Reading
Part III: Words at Work:
9. Words and Culture
Whorf
Kinship
Taxonomies
Color
Prototypes
Taboo and Euphemism
Further Reading
10. Ethnographies
Varieties of Talk
The Ethnography of Speaking
Ethnomethodology
Further Reading
11. Solidarity and Politeness
Tu and Vous
Address Terms
Politeness
Further Reading
12. Talk and Action
Speech Acts
Cooperation
Conversation
Further Reading
Part IV: Understanding and Intervening:
13. Gender
Differences
Possible Explanations
Further Reading
14. Disadvantage
Codes Again
African American English
Consequences for Education
Further Reading
15. Planning
Issues
A Variety of Situations
Further Examples
Winners and Losers
Further Reading
16. Conclusion
References
Index