Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics

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Oxford University Press, 1994 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 235 pages
Why have 1500 separate languages developed in the Pacific islands of Melanesia? Why do Danes understand Norwegian better than Norwegians understand Danish? Why is a Cornish accent rated higher than Cockney speech but lower than Oxford English? Are British and American English different languages? Linguistics tends to ignore the relationship between languages and the societies in which they are spoken, while sociology generally overlooks the role of language in the constitution of society. Suzanne Romaine provides a clear, lively, and accessible introduction to the field of sociolinguistics, emphasizing the constant interaction between society and language.

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Contents

Language in SocietySociety in Language
1
Language Choice
33
Sociolinguistic Patterns
67
Copyright

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