NIGEL ARMSTRONG teaches French and linguistics at the University of Leeds, UK. Current research projects focus on social, regional and stylistic variation in French, as well as translation. His publications include Social and Stylistic Variation in Spoken French (2001) and Translation, Linguistics, Culture (2005)TIM POOLEY. After a career spanning 30 years teaching French and linguistics at London Metropolitan University (in its various guises) Tim is now an independent researcher, whose main interests are sociolinguistics variation and minority languages in francophone Europe. His publications include Chtimi (1996) and Language, Dialect and Identity in Lille (2004)

• List of Tables List of Figures Preliminary Remarks: The Links Between Social and Linguistic Change Standardisation and Language Change in France, Belgium and Switzerland Social Levelling: Substantive Transformations, Changing Social Practices and Symbolic Representations Accents and Levelling in France, Belgium and Switzerland The Levelling of Regional Varieties in France Regional Vernacular Varieties and Language Levelling in Belgium and Switzerland Social Factors: Bringing Together Class, Gender, Migration, Ideology and Language References Index