Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics [Paperback]

Suzanne Romaine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0198751346 | ISBN-13: 978-0198751342

Why have 1,500 separate languages developed in Melanesia? Why is a Cornish accent rated higher than Cockney speech but lower than Oxford English? 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. In her examples she draws on studies of cultures all over the world, including her own extensive fieldwork in Papua New Guinea.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Refreshingly up-to-date, with a broad range of pertinent examples. It deserves to become the standard introduction to that most basic of sciences, sociolinguistics. Top marks!"--John R. Perry, University of Chicago

"An engaging introductory book, easy to read and accessible enough for undergraduate students while being current and detailed enough for a graduate level introductory courses....A good substitute for Trudgill's....My students were also pleased with the affordability of the text."--Joaquin S. Vila, Mankato State University

"Provides an excellent foundation for students in introductory courses. Excellent resource to supplement multicultural courses in speech-language pathology and audiology."--Adele Proctor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"An up-to-date, somtimes issue oriented, and very readable introductory text. Good examples used."--Brian Stross, University of Texas

"Would recommend this book strongly as a general introduction to the study of language....It should be read before books on syntax or others on 'sociolinguistics' because it clearly lays before the reader the essentials of language as a tool for communication in a human context. Readable and informative."--Robert Austerlitz, Columbia University

"This appears to be an ideal text for my course, Language and Culture."--Harold R. Battersby, SUNY-Geneseo

"This book is a valuable introduction to the field of sociolinguistics for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. It is a readable yet thorough study which offers both the traditional viewpoint and alternative perspectives on a `still rather young' discipline."--Language In Society

About the Author

Professor Suzanne Romaine is Merton Professor of English Language at the University of Oxford and author of a number of books.
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (February 17, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198751346
• ISBN-13: 978-0198751342
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,130,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction, January 25, 2001

By 

H. Chen-Cheng (Taiwan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Paperback)

This is a concise book on sociolinguistics. It does not dwell excessively on methodology or theoretical perspectives but offers through many examples, some presented via tables and figures, a taste of the kinds of issues sociolinguists struggle with, as well as some of their major findings. As a specialist in the Papua New Ginean languages, Romaine naturally makes good use of non-Western examples like Tok Pisin to illustrate such problems as language/dialect, language contact, language hierarchy, though she also draws examples from the Scandanavian languages as well as research on the social dialects of English. The book is highly readable even to a non-linguist like me. It probably does not cover all the conceivable major topics, but what it covers it covers well. The annotated bibliography at the end of each chapter is a useful guide to further reading.

My only complaint regards her non-critical citation of the much-repeated "fact" (to illustrate the language/dialect problem) that speakers of mutually unintelligible Chinese languages share a common writing system. This of course is true only for the classical literary (written) language, not the vernacular varieties.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good Introduction, June 24, 2005

By 

T. Hooper "thdizzy" (Osaka, Japan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Paperback)

Suzanne Romaine takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the field of sociolinguistics. The role of society in language use is examined from many different angles. Since this is an introductory book, it doesn't go into each subfield very deeply, but it does give you a broad overview of what we study in this field. I thought that the author paid particular attention to the issues of pidgins and creoles, and gender issues in language use. This would be useful for beginners in sociolinguistics and for those interested in the two specializations mentioned above.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good introduction to socio-linguistics., March 20, 2005

By 

Kazuma (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Language in Society: An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (Paperback)

What is sociolinguistics? What does it aim to do? and in What respects does it diverge from other theoretical linguistic approaches?-if you have questions like these, there is every reason why you should buy and read this book. This inspiring introduction to a relatively new field of linguistics explains clearly and in a plain style why that field was born, what ends it can serve and what attitudes it takes toward lanaguge science; insomuch that those who has just started to take interest in the field of linguistics have no difficulty understanding it; but, on the contrary, can enjoy reading it.

Whether you can agree with the author's ideas, whether you find her arguments satisfying, I know not; but one thing is certain: regardless of whether you are for or againts this book's assertions, reading this book can never be a waste of time.