Language, Society and Power: An Introduction

By Betsy Evans, Annabelle Mooney, Linda Thomas, et al.

Book Overview

Language, Society and Power is the essential introductory text for students studying language in a variety of social contexts. This book examines the ways in which language functions, how it influences thought and how it varies according to age, ethnicity, class and gender. It seeks to answer such questions as: How can a language reflect the status of children and older people? Do men and women talk differently? How can our use of language mark our ethnic identity? It also looks at language use in politics and the media and investigates how language affects and constructs our identities, exploring notions of correctness and attitudes towards language use. This third edition of this bestselling book has been completely revised to include recent developments in theory and research and offers the following features: a range of new and engaging international examples drawn from everyday life: beauty advertisements, conversation transcripts, newspaper headlines reporting on asylum seekers, language themed cartoons, and excerpts from the television programme South Park and satirical news website The Onion new activities designed to give students a real understanding of the topic a new chapter covering 'Student Projects' giving readers suggestions on how to further explore the topics covered in the book updated and expanded further reading sections for each chapter and a glossary. While it can be used as a stand-alone text, this edition of Language, Society and Power has also been fully cross-referenced with the new companion title: The Language, Society and Power Reader. Together these books provide the complete resource for students of English language and linguistics, media, communication, cultural studies, sociology and psychology."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415576598
• ISBN13: 9780415576598
• Release Date: January 2011
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.8" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great

The book came quickly and was in the condition stated in the description. I was very happy with what I received!

Great Explanation; a bit polluted by modern society

Clarity and logical explanation of the modern theories of language and linguistics is this book's strength. I exhaustively covered this book because of a college class that it was required for. Much about language that is basic for moving on from elementary linguistics is covered in this book.Contemporary classic theories of language are included (ie Saussure's theories, Sapir-Whorf, etc) which sets the reader off into a fascinating discovery of how language promotes or inhibits one's power in modern society. In such contemporary issues as political correctness and the Standard American English debate, a slightly more leftist view is employed in the writing of the book than I would've preferred, but nonetheless, there is a suffice and clear explanation of the information throughout.A quality book. Check it out!