Have you ever noticed an accent or puzzled over a dialect phrase? Language can be a powerful tool with which one can create a persona; it can be a common ground between people or can be used as a divide between social groups. This Companion is for anyone who is interested in how and why people speak and write with such diversity.

The Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics includes articles by leading scholars in the field on:

• methods of observation and analysis
• social correlates
• socio-psychological factors
• socio-political factors
• language change.

With a substantial A-Z glossary of key terms and concepts, directions for further study, and detailed cross-referencing with links to the glossary, The Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics is both an essential broad-based introduction for those new to the field, and a highly useful reference for the more advanced linguist.

About the Author
Louise Mullany, Carmen Llamas, Peter Stockwell

Reviews

'This ''Routledge Companion to Sociolinguistics'' is certainly a useful manual. Its
clear short chapters, the glossary and the transparent structure of the whole
compilation make it an accessible reference work for beginners. The suggestions
for further readings and the extensive bibliographical list of references allow
more advanced readers to check sources and to search for detailed information on
the topics they are interested in.' - Catharina Peersman, LINGUIST LIST

'This Companion to Sociolinguistics is a useful reference book for anyone interested in language variation and change, from the layman who first approaches linguistic matters to the more advanced sociolinguist' - Silvia Bruti, TESL-EJ

'For anyone interested in reading about most of the fundamental issues in sociolinguistics, whether a seasoned researcher or a graduate student, this companion is an absolute must.'- Richard Watts, University of Berne, Switzerland

Book Information
ISBN 9780415338509
Author Carmen Llamas
Format Paperback
Page Count 294
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 550g