Sociolinguistics

'To write a great introductory text you have to make a statement about fundamental issues. Here, the notion of choice bridges the gap between micro and macrosociolinguistics and brings both cohesion and edge to the book.' Frans Gregersen, The Lanchart Centre, University of Copenhagen

'This is the book I'd [choose] to introduce students to the fast developing field of sociolinguistics, for it combines clear explanations with intriguing examples.' Bernard Spolsky, Professor Emeritus, Bar-Ilan University

'A highly original synthesis of decades of sociolinguistics research, and an agenda setter, around the key notion of 'choice', for many years to come.' Li Wei, Birkbeck, University of London

'... a well-written compendium, providing readers with a concise, yet elaborate description of sociolinguistic research ... The topics addressed are broad and wide-sweeping, showing the diversity of sociolinguistic research while at the same time making each arena seem accessible to the novice researcher. It was a pleasant read, informative, and extremely useful. ... an excellent book.' Brad Miller, Journal of Sociolinguistics

Florian Coulmas is Director of the German Institute for Japanese Studies, Tokyo. He has published widely in the field of sociolinguistics and is associate editor of the International Journal of the Sociology of Language. His previous books include Literacy and Linguistic Minorities (1984), Language Adaptation (Cambridge University Press, 1989), Language and Economy (1992), The Handbook of Sociolinguistics (1997) and Writing Systems (Cambridge University Press, 2003).

1. Introduction: notions of language; Part I. Micro-choices: 2. Standard and dialect: social stratification as a factor of linguistic choice; 3. Gendered speech: sex as a factor of linguistic choice; 4. Communicating across generations: age as a factor of linguistic choice; 5. Choice and change; 6. Politeness: cultural dimensions of linguistic choice; Part II. Macro-choices: 7. Code-switching: linguistic choices across language boundaries; 8. Diglossia and bilingualism: functional restrictions on language choice; 9. Language spread, shift and maintenance: how groups choose their language; 10. Language and identity: individual, social, national; 11. Language planning: communication demands, public choice, utility; 12. Select letters: a major divide; 13. The language of choice; 14. Research ethics.