Sociolinguistics and Language Education

This book, addressed to experienced and novice language educators, provides an up-to-date overview of sociolinguistics, reflecting changes in the global situation and the continuing evolution of the field and its relevance to language education around the world. Topics covered include nationalism and popular culture, style and identity, creole languages, critical language awareness, gender and ethnicity, multimodal literacies, classroom discourse, and ideologies and power. Whether considering the role of English as an international language or innovative initiatives in Indigenous language revitalization, in every context of the world sociolinguistic perspectives highlight the fluid and flexible use of language in communities and classrooms, and the importance of teacher practices that open up spaces of awareness and acceptance of --and access to--the widest possible communicative repertoire for students.

Nancy H. Hornberger is Professor of Education and Chair of Educational Linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. She is a three-time recipient of the Fulbright Senior Specialist Award, which has taken her to Paraguay, New Zealand and South Africa respectively, and she teaches, lectures and advises on multilingualism and education throughout the world. Her research interests include educational linguistics and sociolinguistics, educational ethnography and anthropology, bilingualism and biliteracy, multilingualism and language education policy, Indigenous education and language revitalization. She has authored or edited over two dozen books, including Sociolinguistics and Language Education (Multilingual Matters, 2010).

Sandra McKay is Professor Emeritus of English at San Francisco State University. Her books include Teaching English as an International Language: Rethinking Goals and Approaches (2002, OUP) and Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching (edited with Nancy Hornberger, 1996, CUP). Her newest book is International English in its Sociolinguistic Contexts: Towards a Socially Sensitive Pedagogy (with Wendy Bokhorst-Heng, 2008, Frances Taylor). She has received Fulbright Grants, academic specialists awards and worked extensively in international teacher education in Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.