Introducing Language and Society

Description

This accessible and entertaining textbook introduces students to both traditional and more contemporary approaches to sociolinguistics in a real-world context, addressing current social problems that students are likely to care about, such as racism, inequality, political conflict, belonging, and issues around gender and sexuality. Each chapter includes exercises, case studies and ideas for small-scale research projects, encouraging students to think critically about the different theories and approaches to language and society, and to interrogate their own beliefs about language and communication. The book gives students a grounding in the traditional concepts and techniques upon which sociolinguistics is built, while also introducing new developments from the last decade, such as translanguaging, multimodality, superdiversity, linguistic landscapes and language and digital media. Students will also have online access to more detailed examples, links to video and audio files, and more challenging exercises to strengthen their skills and confidence as sociolinguists.

Rodney H. Jones is Professor of Sociolinguistics at the University of Reading, where he teaches Sociolinguistics and Language and Digital Media on both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has published widely in the areas of sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, computer mediated communication, and health communication. His other textbooks include Discourse Analysis, 2nd edition (Routledge, 2018), and Understanding Digital Literacies, 2nd edition, with Christoph Hafner (Routledge, 2021). Christiana Themistocleous is an Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics at the University of Reading where she has been teaching modules in Sociolinguistics, Language and Gender and Research Methods since 2010. Her research interests fall within the areas of societal multilingualism and digital media. Her recent work on multilingualism in the linguistic landscape of conflict zones has been funded by the British Academy and published in journals like Linguistic Landscapes, Discourse, Context & Media and Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development.

'The most refreshing text on applied sociolinguistics I have seen. The coverage of topics and theories is impressive. The vivid examples and the project ideas motivate students to research any topic of their interest with a real sense of purpose and clear, achievable learning objectives.' Li Wei, UCL Institute of Education 'Here is the sociolinguistics textbook you've been waiting for! It provides a comprehensive introduction to contemporary sociolinguistic concerns while still covering the early foundational studies. Its accessible writing, engaging images, numerous exemplar case studies, and attention to current social issues make it a student-friendly book. Instructors too will be pleased to find relevant activities incorporated into each chapter, and the Sociolinguist's Toolkit guiding students on how to conduct their own research in the Appendix.' Elizabeth Miller, University of North Carolina at Charlotte 'Jones and Themistocleous present classic variationist topics alongside current topics in sociolinguistics such as translanguaging and multimodal language use. Their style is approachable, with theory and critical analysis interwoven throughout. Instructors and students alike will find this text an engaging introduction to the field. An instant classic, this book sets the standard for sociolinguistic textbooks in the transnational era.' Kelle Marshall, Pepperdine University 'A conceptually rich yet accessible resource for students and teachers of sociolinguistics. It includes both traditional and state-of-the-art approaches to the study of language-in-society, and it is also unique in that it attributes more topical prominence to contemporary theories and issues that invite readers to "un-think" and 're-think' dominant assumptions about language and its social-interactional functions.' Farzad Karimzad, Salisbury University 'Offers a refreshing take on the introductory sociolinguistics textbook, blending foundational concepts with dynamic discussion of timely concerns, including the impact of digital media on language. The Sociolinguist's Toolkit, combined with the project ideas at the end of every chapter, provide a much needed introduction to sociolinguistic research.' Olivia Rines, Arizona State University 'This exciting new textbook encourages us to explore the 'wicked problems' that beset life in the twenty-first century - inequality, racism, environmental destruction - from the perspective of sociolinguistics, paying careful attention to language, discourse and communication. The authors rethink traditional approaches to language and society, and introduce the reader to cutting-edge theories and methodologies that allow us to reimagine language, and its study, in innovative and, importantly, world-making ways.' Ana Deumert, University of Cape Town 'Now that I know his book exists, I can't imagine teaching without it. Language and Society provides a powerful guide to the study of language in interaction, departing in important ways from traditional textbooks on Sociolinguistics. Each lucid chapter synthesizes ultra-up-to-date multidisciplinary research from around the globe, across languages and media, and offers engaging activities and project suggestions for students that encourage mini forays into their own research on language and society.' Betsy Rymes, University of Pennsylvania/Graduate School of Education