Style: Language Variation and Identity (Key Topics in Sociolinguistics) - Softcover

Coupland, Nikolas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521618142 ISBN 13: 9780521618144

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2007

Synopsis

Style refers to ways of speaking - how speakers use the resource of language variation to make meaning in social encounters. This 2007 book develops a coherent theoretical approach to style in sociolinguistics, illustrated with copious examples. It explains how speakers project different social identities and create different social relationships through their style choices, and how speech-style and social context inter-relate. Style therefore refers to the wide range of strategic actions and performances that speakers engage in, to construct themselves and their social lives. Coupland draws on and integrates a wide variety of contemporary sociolinguistic research as well as his own extensive research in this field. The emphasis is on how social meanings are made locally, in specific relationships, genres, groups and cultures, and on studying language variation as part of the analysis of spoken discourse.

About this title

Book Description

This 2007 book explains the concept of style in speech and examines ways of studying accents and dialects. It explains, theoretically and with copious examples, how style in language creates social meanings, for example by changing the quality of social relationships or allowing speakers to project different identities.

About the Author

Nikolas Coupland is Professor and Research Director of the Cardiff University Centre for Language and Communication Research. He is a founding co-editor of the Journal of Sociolinguistics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0521618142
• ISBN 13: 9780521618144
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224