Wiley-Blackwell An Introduction to Sociolinguistics: 4 (Blackwell Textbooks in Linguistics)

Since it first appeared more than fifteen years ago, Ronald Wardhaugh′s An Introduction to Sociolinguistics has been an immensely popular textbook for courses in sociolinguistics and the sociology of language. Provides an accessible, comprehensive introduction to sociolinguistics that reflects new developments in the field Features revisions and updates throughout the text, further reading sections, exercises, and references Offers continuity and compatibility with the third edition Review "Among the various introductions to sociolinguistics, this one certainly stands out in its comprehensiveness... it offers a wealth of relevant and correct information." Sociolinguistica <!––end––> "...the standard text in advanced undergraduate courses and introductory graduate courses." Language From the Back Cover Since it first appeared more than fifteen years ago, Ronald Wardhaugh′s An Introduction to Sociolinguistics has been an immensely popular textbook for courses in sociolinguistics and the sociology of language. Organized in four parts – Languages and Communities, Inherent Variety, Words at Work, and Understanding and Intervening – the book offers an accessible, comprehensive introduction to sociolinguistics. Topics explored include language, dialects, pidgins and creoles, codes, bilingualism, speech communities, variation, and change. The book also covers words and culture, ethnographies, solidarity and politeness, talk and action, gender, disadvantage, and planning. In the fourth edition, the text, further reading sections, exercises, and references have been revised and updated to reflect new developments in the field. In particular, the coverage of gender, disadvantage, and planning has been considerably revised and extended. About the Author Ronald Wardhaugh is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto. His many successful books include Understanding English Grammar (Blackwell, 1995) and Proper English (Blackwell, 1998).