This pocket-sized alphabetic guide introduces popular terms used in the study of language and society. A central topic within modern linguistics, sociolinguistics deals with human communication and the use of language in its social context. Clearly written by a leading authority in the field, this glossary provides full coverage of both traditional and contemporary terminology, including the relatively new areas within sociolinguistics of sign language, gay language and cross-cultural communication.

Key Features

• An ideal companion to courses in sociolinguistics, language variation and change, dialectology, English language and language and gender
• Contains illustrations, dialect maps and a bibliography
• Provides linguistic examples of the terms defined
• Supplies numerous cross-references to related terms.