Sociolinguistic Theory: Linguistic Variation and Its Social Significance (Language in Society) - Tapa dura

"a first-class synthesis and extension of an important branch of sociolinguistics. As a textbook of variation theory it is one that I would recommend very highly." Edgar Schneider, English World-Wide "Chambers offers a lucid introduction to the basic issues that relate language and society, and leads the reader directly to the quantitative data that define the field. At each turn, we benefit from his personal and insightful weighing of the evidence on why we speak the way we do." William Labov, University of Pennsylvania "This book is indispensable for everybody in the field, from undergraduates to advanced researchers. Well-written, engaged, and inspiring, it is at the same time a state-of-the-art account of variationist sociolinguistics and a challenge to go on and enhance our knowledge." Daniel Schreier, University of Zurich "Professor Chambers's book successfully combines a theoretical grounding in variationist sociolinguistics with generous descriptions of the research on which the theories are based. This makes it particularly inspiring for students who themselves want to try their hands at this field of study." Mats Mobarg, University of Gothenburg

Sociolinguistic Theory presents a critical synthesis of sociolinguistics that centers on the study of language variation and change, and identifies opportunities for future research. Since the inception of sociolinguistics four decades ago, the correlation of dependent linguistic variables with independent social variables has provided the theoretical core of the discipline. This volume reviews the essential findings that form its foundation and shows how empirical explorations have made it the most stimulating field in the contemporary study of language. Sociolinguistic Theory discusses the linguistic variable and its significance, crucial social variables such as social stratification, sex and age, and the cultural purposes of linguistic variation. This second edition has been updated to incorporate new findings and expand on the discussion of communicative competence and developmental sociolinguistics.