The Ethnography of Communication: An Introduction (Language in Society) [Paperback]

Muriel Saville-Troike (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2002 | ISBN-10: 063122842X | ISBN-13: 978-0631228424 | Edition: 3

The Ethnography of Communication presents the terms and concepts which are essential for discussing how and why language is used and how its use varies in different cultures.

• Presents the essential terms and concepts introduced and developed by Dell Hymes and others and surveys the most important findings and applications of their work.
  
• Draws on insights from social anthropology and psycholinguistics in investigating the patterning of communicative behavior in specific cultural settings.
  
• Includes two completely new chapters on contrasts in patterns of communication and on politeness, power, and politics.
  
• Incorporates a broad range of examples and illustrations from many languages and cultures for analyzing patterns of communicative phenomena.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This third edition of The Ethnography of Communication is a real treasure. For someone new to linguistic anthropology in general, or to the ethnography of communication in particular, it provides a thorough and accessible introduction to the basic contents and concepts, vocabulary, methodologies and theories of contemporary research in the intertwined topics of language and culture. For others, it is a refresher course and a briefing on the progress of the past couple of decades... a thoughtful and important work." Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development

"If you read one book on the ethnography of communication, read this one. Its coverage of what has been a major area of study for scholars in sociolinguistics, communication, and linguistic anthropology for the past three decades is comprehensive, insightful, and, in this third edition, completely brought up to currency with developments in the field." Ron Scollon, Georgetown University

"This is a fine introductory text and an excellent reference volume as well. In short, it is a first-rate work by a world-class scholar." TESOL Quarterly

"The Ethnography of Communication more than meets the pointed criteria for a good textbook. In addition, it is well written, interesting, and enlightening." Language and Social Psychology

From the Back Cover

The Ethnography of Communication explores how and why language is used, and how its use varies in different cultures. In this now standard introduction to the subject, Muriel Saville-Troike presents the essential terms and concepts introduced and developed by Dell Hymes and others, and surveys the most important findings and applications of their work. Drawing on insights from social anthropology and psycholinguistics and using examples from many languages and cultures, she builds a model that includes communication within the overall framework of cultural competence.

This third edition has been thoroughly revised to reflect the substantial contributions made in recent years to the development and application of the subject. It includes two completely new chapters on contrasts in patterns of communication and on politeness, power, and politics. The book now incorporates an even broader range of examples and illustrations for analyzing the patterns of communicative phenomena in the languages of the world.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 3 edition (December 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 063122842X
• ISBN-13: 978-0631228424
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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