NIGEL ARMSTRONG is Senior Lecturer in French Studies at the University of Leeds, UK. His current research projects focus on social, regional and stylistic variation in French, as well as translation. Nigel's previous publications include Translation, Linguistics, Culture and (with T. Pooley) Social and Linguistic Change in European French. IAN MACKENZIE is Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK. He specializes in syntax, particularly in relation to the diachronic development of Spanish, but also in relation to other Romance languages. Ian's publications include Introduction to Linguistic Philosophy and Unaccusative Verbs in Romance Languages.

• Preface The Nature of the Standard Grammaticality Prestige Speech Patterns Language Change Social Levelling, or Anti-standardization Away from the Anglo-Saxon Model: The Case of French References

NIGEL ARMSTRONG is Senior Lecturer in French Studies at the University of Leeds, UK. His current research projects focus on social, regional and stylistic variation in French, as well as translation. Nigel's previous publications include Translation, Linguistics, Culture and (with T. Pooley) Social and Linguistic Change in European French. IAN MACKENZIE is Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK. He specializes in syntax, particularly in relation to the diachronic development of Spanish, but also in relation to other Romance languages. Ian's publications include Introduction to Linguistic Philosophy and Unaccusative Verbs in Romance Languages.

• Preface The Nature of the Standard Grammaticality Prestige Speech Patterns Language Change Social Levelling, or Anti-standardization Away from the Anglo-Saxon Model: The Case of French References

NIGEL ARMSTRONG is Senior Lecturer in French Studies at the University of Leeds, UK. His current research projects focus on social, regional and stylistic variation in French, as well as translation. Nigel's previous publications include Translation, Linguistics, Culture and (with T. Pooley) Social and Linguistic Change in European French. IAN MACKENZIE is Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Newcastle University, UK. He specializes in syntax, particularly in relation to the diachronic development of Spanish, but also in relation to other Romance languages. Ian's publications include Introduction to Linguistic Philosophy and Unaccusative Verbs in Romance Languages.

• Preface The Nature of the Standard Grammaticality Prestige Speech Patterns Language Change Social Levelling, or Anti-standardization Away from the Anglo-Saxon Model: The Case of French References