Variation in an English Dialect: A Sociolinguistic Study (Cambridge Studies in Linguistics, Series Number 37) - Softcover

Cheshire, Jenny

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521117151 ISBN 13: 9780521117159

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2009

Synopsis

Dr Cheshire's fieldwork concentrates on phonological variation in spontaneous everyday conversation. She interviews a group of non-standard English speakers living in Reading, Berkshire. Her data provides a basis for a perceptive analysis of variation in contemporary English and of the nature and function of variation in general. She specifically focuses on morphological and syntactic variation, and thus also provides a valid description between standard English and a variety used by working-class speakers, which will interest not only linguists including sociolinguists and dialectologists, but many workers in education. Linguistic and social constraints on variation are established, and the analysis also demonstrates how speakers are able to exploit the resources of the language system to convey social meaning. The data Dr Cheshire has collected are in themselves an important contribution to the study of language in its social context, whilst the analysis has significant theoretical implications for diachronic and synchronic linguistics.

About this title

Book Description

Dr Cheshire interviews a group of non-standard English speakers living in Reading, Berkshire. She concentrates on phonological variation in spontaneous everyday conversation. She specifically focuses on morphological and syntactic variation that contributes to the study of language in its social context. This study will interest sociolinguists, dialectologists and workers in education.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521117151
• ISBN 13: 9780521117159
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 156