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422 results in Sociolinguistics

Page 1 of 22

The Cultural Politics of Digital User Experience Writing
  • Lara Portmann
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    August 2025
    Print publication:
    31 August 2025

Weaponizing Language
  • Legislating a Hindu India
  • Ila Nagar
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    August 2025
    Print publication:
    31 August 2025
  • Small linguistic tricks can have big footprints. This book examines how India's current Hindu nationalist government uses language as a weapon against its Muslim citizens. Each chapter provides a discursive history of matters that have been a source of conflict between Hindus and Muslims in India, highlighting the potent relationship between language and politics. The book explores four issues, Ramajanmbhoomi temple, Muslim Personal Law as it pertains to Indian Muslim women, Kashmir and revocation of Article 370, and Citizenship (Amendment) Act/National Registry of Citizens, whose histories in courts and legislative bodies are written in linguistic trickery. Offering novel ways of understanding why the Hindu right has claimed victories on these legislative and judicial matters that impact the lives of minority citizens, it is essential reading for key insights for academic researchers and students in sociolinguistics, as well as South Asia studies, gender studies and Indian politics and culture.

Liquid Languages
  • Constructing Languages in Late Modern Cultures of Diffusion
  • Britta Schneider
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    August 2025
    Print publication:
    31 July 2025
  • Which ideas about language are prevalent in cultures that are not framed in Western nationalist and literate traditions? How do people conceptualise language if speakers of the same community are multilingual, have access to different language resources and only partially share ideas about what is right and wrong in language? This book explores the 'liquid' properties of language, highlighting how languages, as discursive-material assemblages, can differ in their degree of fixity. It provides a linguistic anthropological study of the language ideologies in Belize, where ethnic belonging and language practice do not necessarily match and where stable language norms are not always considered a value. Scrutinising ethnographic data and examinations of local performances of English, it shows that languages emerge in relation to belonging, prestige and material culture. Bringing to the fore liquid language cultures, it provides important additions to our understanding of late modern language assemblages in a globalising world.

The Language Work of Speechwriters
  • Gwynne Mapes
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    August 2025
    Print publication:
    31 August 2025
  • The work of speechwriters is prominent in political discourse, yet the writers themselves remain in the shadows of the powerful, public figures they work for. This book throws the spotlight on these invisible wordsmiths, illuminating not only what they do, but also why it matters. Based on ethnographic research in the US American speechwriting community, it investigates the ways in which speechwriters talk about their professional practices, and also the material procedures which guide the production of their deliverables. Relying on a robust collection of various genres of discursive data, Mapes focuses on the primary rhetorical strategies which characterize speechwriters' discourse, neatly exposing how they are beholden to a linguistic marketplace entrenched in ideological and socioeconomic struggle. Providing fascinating insights into an understudied and relatively misunderstood profession, this book is essential reading for academic researchers and students in applied linguistics, discourse studies, linguistic and cultural anthropology, and sociolinguistics.

Oracy
  • The Politics of Speech Education
  • Edited by Tom F. Wright
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    July 2025
    Print publication:
    31 July 2025
  • Oracy – 'speaking and listening' – has become one of the most prominent ideas in modern education. But where has this idea come from? Should oracy education be seen as positive, or does it hold unintended consequences? How can problems over definitions, teaching and assessment ever be overcome? This timely book brings together prominent practitioners and researchers to explore the often-overlooked implications of speaking and listening education. It features essays from teachers, school leaders, political advisers and charity heads, and from leading thinkers across the fields of linguistics, political science, history, Classics and anthropology. Together, they consider the benefits and risks of oracy education, place it in global context, and offer practical guidance for those trying to implement it on the ground. By demystifying one of the most important yet contentious ideas in modern education, this book offers a vital roadmap for how schools can make oracy work for all.

The Emergence and Development of American English
  • William A Kretzschmar, Jr.
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    July 2025
    Print publication:
    31 July 2025
  • This book tells the fascinating story of American English, tracing its emergence in the colonial period through to the present day. Written by a leading scholar, and drawing on data from the Linguistic Atlas Project, it explores how and why American English differs from British English, how it has been standardized, and how the USA's global political power has influenced its prominent status around the world. Illustrated with copious examples of language in use, it also surveys the various dialects of American English, including African American English, and explores social and cultural variation between English and other languages spoken in the United States. Each chapter explains the relevant terms and concepts from linguistics, and provides computer-based exercises. The author also introduces the basics of complexity science, showing how complex systems shape development and change in American English. Authoritative yet accessible, it will be essential reading for researchers and students alike.

Analysing Sociolinguistic Variation
  • 2nd edition
  • Sali A. Tagliamonte
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    June 2025
    Print publication:
    30 June 2025
  • Now in its second edition, this is an invaluable manual for teaching and learning variation analysis, the quantitative study of linguistic variation and change. Written by a leading scholar in the field with over thirty years of experience, it provides an insider's view of the methodology through practical, 'hands-on' advice, including straightforward instructions for conducting analyses using the R programming language, the new gold standard for analysis. It leads readers through each phase of a research study based on data gathered in sociocultural contexts, beginning with the selection and sampling of a data source, to hints on successful project design, interview techniques, data management, analysis and interpretation, with systematic procedures provided at each step of the process. This edition has been fully updated, with new insights and explanations in line with recent discoveries in the field, making it essential reading for anyone embarking on their own sociolinguistic research project.

The Acquisition of Celtic Languages

English Sociolinguistics
  • An Introduction
  • Daniel Schreier
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    May 2025
    Print publication:
    15 May 2025
  • 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.

Manipulation, Influence and Deception
  • The Changing Landscape of Persuasive Language
  • Edited by Sofia Rüdiger, Daria Dayter
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    April 2025
    Print publication:
    24 April 2025
  • In an era characterised by information saturation and the rapid evolution of digital communication platforms, the study of persuasive language is undergoing profound developments. Bringing together cutting-edge research from a team of internationally acclaimed experts, this timely book examines the transformations occurring in the domain of persuasive language in contemporary society. It dissects the intricate web of manipulation, influence and deception, providing in-depth analyses of the potent mechanisms governing communication. Each chapter offers empirical insights from a range of different scholarly perspectives, including corpus linguistics, conversation analysis, forensic linguistics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, phonetics and human-robot interactions. It opens with a comprehensive introductory chapter, making the research accessible to readers without extensive background knowledge. Equipping readers with the tools to critically engage with the multifaceted dynamics of language and persuasion, this is an indispensable resource for anyone striving to fathom the evolving realm of persuasive language.

The Comfort of Screens
  • Literacy in Postdigital Times
  • Jennifer Rowsell
  • With contributions by Samuel Sandor
  • Published online:
    10 April 2025
    Print publication:
    17 April 2025
  • Are screens the modern mirrors of the soul? The postdigital condition blurs the line between screens, humans, physical contexts, virtual worlds, analogue texts, and time as linear and lockstep. This book presents a unique study into people and their screen lives, giving readers an original perspective on digital literacies and communication in an ever-changing and capaciously connected world. Seventeen individuals who all live on the same crescent, aged from 23 to 84, share their thoughts, habits, and ruminations on screen lives, illuminating eclectic, complex, and dynamic insights about life in a postdigital age. Their stories are brought to life through theory, interview excerpts, song lyrics, and woodcut illustrations. Breaking free from digital literacy as a separate, discrete skill to one that should be taught as it is lived – especially as automation, AI, and algorithms encroach into our everyday lives – this fascinating book pulls readers into the future of digital education.

Language Activism
  • The Role of Scholars in Linguistic Reform and Social Change
  • Edited by Cecelia Cutler, Unn Røyneland, Zvjezdana Vrzić
  • Coming soon
  • Expected online publication date:
    March 2025
    Print publication:
    06 February 2025
  • Bringing together a renowned group of scholars from a range of disciplines – sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology, philosophy of language, and language documentation – this book explores the role academics can play in language activism. It surveys the most common tensions that language researchers experience in their attempts to enact social change through their work, such as how far they can become politically involved, how they can maintain objectivity in an activist role, whether their work can ever be apolitical, and what ideologies they propagate. In a series of concise original chapters, each author discusses their own experiences and personal concerns; some offering more theoretically informed elaborations on the topic of language activism. Showcasing the state-of-the-art in language activism, this book is essential reading for anyone considering the need for scholarly engagement with the public and the communities in which they work, and the impact that this activism can have on society.

Language and Politics
  • A Cross-Cultural Pragmatics Perspective
  • Julianne House, Dániel Z. Kádár
  • Published online:
    20 February 2025
    Print publication:
    27 February 2025
  • The research and teaching of language and politics has mainly been carried out in the fields of critical discourse analysis and sociolinguistics. This groundbreaking book provides a concise introduction to the field from the perspective of cross-cultural pragmatics. It introduces a strictly language-based, bottom-up and comprehensive model for analysing political data, which allows the reader to examine political and socio-political data without pre-held convictions and prejudices, avoiding many pitfalls that have lurked for a long time in the study of political language use. It is illustrated with a wealth of data and case studies drawn from many linguacultures, including Anglophone ones, China, Japan, Germany and the former Yugoslavia, and from different contexts of political language use, such as diplomacy, activism, public communication and news articles. It includes handy further reading lists, discussion points and a comprehensive glossary, making it ideal for anyone keen to know how language interacts with politics.

Linguistic Contact and Language Change
  • An Introduction
  • Robert McColl Millar
  • Published online:
    22 December 2024
    Print publication:
    05 December 2024
  • Linguistic contact is a reality of everyday life, as speakers of different languages come into contact with one another, often causing language change. This undergraduate textbook provides a means by which these processes, both modern and historical, can be analysed, based on cutting-edge theoretical and methodological practices. Chapters cover language death, the development of pidgins and creoles, linguistic convergence and language contact, and new variety formation. Each chapter is subdivided into key themes, which are supported by diverse and real-world case studies. Student learning is bolstered by illustrative maps, exercises, research tasks, further reading suggestions, and a glossary. Ancillary resources are available including extra content not covered in the book, links to recordings of some of the language varieties covered, and additional discussion, presentation and essay topics. Primarily for undergraduate students of linguistics, it provides a balanced, historically grounded, and up-to-date introduction to linguistic contact and language change.

Voices of Immigration
  • A Serial Narrative Ethnography of Language Shift
  • Agnes Weiyun He
  • Published online:
    20 December 2024
    Print publication:
    09 January 2025
  • What does immigration do to our languages and identities? What factors contribute to the maintenance or loss of immigrant languages? This book highlights theoretical and typological issues surrounding heritage language development, specifically focusing on Chinese-speaking communities in the USA. Based on a synthesis of observational, interview, reported, and audio/video data, it builds a composite, serial narrative of immigrant language and life. Through the voices of first- and second-generation immigrants, their family members and their teachers, it highlights the translingual practices and transforming interactional routines of heritage language speakers across various stages of life, and the congruencies between narrated perspectives and lived experiences. It shows that language, culture and identity are intricately interwoven, making it essential reading for students and scholars in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details.

Introducing Practical Discourse Analysis
  • Christopher J. Jenks
  • Published online:
    20 December 2024
    Print publication:
    09 January 2025
  • This introduction to discourse analysis provides students with an accessible, yet comprehensive, overview of the subject and all the skills and knowledge needed to become capable discourse analysts. Through practical coverage and advice, this book introduces discourse analysis as a set of analytical tools and perspectives that can be applied to an assignment, project, or thesis. Across seven chapters the book is divided according to practical themes and topics allowing students to establish a deeper understanding of discourse analysis. Students will be taught how to identify and categorise established theories and methodologies, including conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis and more. Through figures, examples, chapter summaries, and over thirty learning activities, this volume teaches students the foundational skills to approach the analytical process with more confidence and background knowledge, suitable for undergraduate and graduate students studying discourse analysis.

Language Policy in Action
  • Kristof Savski
  • Published online:
    05 December 2024
    Print publication:
    12 December 2024
  • Language is part of social life, and efforts to control it can be viewed in light of broader struggles for social power around issues like migration, education, class and race. This book explores how people act within institutions and communities to try and control the language of others. It conceptualises language policy as a form of discourse management, involving attempts to reorder hierarchies of knowledge, reframe social relationships, control what identities and ideologies may be expressed, and limit who can access particular social spaces. Real-life case studies are included, allowing readers to understand the functioning of language policy in different contexts. A holistic framework is also introduced, showing how language policies are enacted though five key actions: creating, debating, interpreting, enforcing and resisting. Each action is explained with reference to current theories in applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, and methodological suggestions, discussion questions and examples of further reading are also provided.

Literacies of Migration
  • Translanguaging Imaginaries of Innocence
  • Patriann Smith
  • Published online:
    30 November 2024
    Print publication:
    21 November 2024
  • Drawing on the lived experiences of high school-aged young Black immigrants, this book paints imaginaries of racialized translanguaging and transsemiotizing, leveraged transnationally by teenagers across the Caribbean and the United States. The Black Caribbean youth reflect a full range of literacy practices – six distinct holistic literacies – identified as a basis for flourishing. These literacies of migration encapsulate numerous examples of how the youth are racialized transgeographically, based on their translanguaging and transsemiotizing with Englishes, both institutionally and individually. In turn, the book advances a heuristic of semiolingual innocence containing eight elements, informed by the Black immigrant literacies of Caribbean youth. Through the eight elements presented – flourishing, purpose, comfort, expansion, paradox, originality, interdependence, and imagination – stakeholders and systems will be positioned to better understand and address the urgent needs of these youth. Ultimately, the heuristic supports a reinscribing of semiolingual innocence for Black Caribbean immigrant and transnational youth, as well as for all youth.

Dementia and Language
  • The Lived Experience in Interaction
  • Edited by Peter Muntigl, Charlotta Plejert, Danielle Jones
  • Published online:
    21 November 2024
    Print publication:
    28 November 2024
  • Bringing together cutting-edge research from a group of international scholars, this innovative volume examines how people with dementia interact with others in a variety of social contexts, ranging from everyday conversation to clinical settings. Drawing on methods from conversation analysis, it sheds light on how people with dementia accomplish relevant goals in interaction, as well as how changes in an individual's discursive abilities may affect how conversationalists negotiate a world in common and continue to build their social relationships. By exploring interaction, this book breaks new ground in challenging the commonplace assumptions about what constitutes typical or atypical interactions in communication involving people with dementia, and further demonstrates the unique and creative strategies all speakers employ to facilitate better and more collaborative communication. It is essential reading for academic researchers and advanced students across sociolinguistics, interactional linguistics and conversational analysis, as well as health care practitioners.

States of Language Policy
  • Theorizing Continuity and Change
  • Edited by Ericka Albaugh, Linda Cardinal, Rémi Léger
  • Published online:
    14 November 2024
    Print publication:
    21 November 2024
  • Why do some countries have one official language while others have two or more? Why do Indigenous languages have official status in some countries but not others? How do we theorize about continuity and change when we explain state language policy choices? Combining both the theory and practice of language regimes, this book explains how the relationship between language, politics, and policy can be studied. It brings together a globally representative team of scholars to look at the patterns of continuity and change, the concept of state traditions, and notions of historical legacies, critical juncture, path dependency, layering, conversion, and drift. It contains in-depth case studies from a multitude of countries including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Norway, Peru, Ukraine, and Wales, and across both colonial and postcolonial contexts. Wide-ranging yet accessible, it is essential reading for practitioners and scholars engaged in the theory and practice of language policies.

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