LINGUIST List 12.783

Wed Mar 21 2001

Books: Sociolinguistics

Editor for this issue: Naomi Ogasawara <naomilinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Vinegrad, Anna, Sociolinguistics: Language and Minority Rights by Stephen May

Language and Minority Rights: Ethnicity, Minority Rights and the Politics of
Language 
Stephen May, University of Bristol, UK


In this provocative and ground-breaking book, Stephen May argues for a
major reappraisal of the long-held constructivist consensus in the
sociology of ethnicity and nationalism, and to a lesser extent in the
sociology of language, that dismisses language as an important feature
of individual and collective identity. Language may well be contingent
but it is not unimportant, as made clear by the many historical and
contemporary ethnic and ethnonational movements and conflicts that
focus on language. May argues that the causes of many of these
language-based conflicts lie with the nation-state and its
preoccupation with establishing a 'common' language and culture via
mass education.

Language and Minority Rights draws together debates on language from
the sociology of language, ethnicity and nationalism,
sociolinguistics, social and political theory, education, history and
law, and encompasses a breadth of cross-national contexts and
examples. It is essential reading for students, teachers and
researchers in the sociology of language, sociolinguistics, ethnicity,
nationalism, politics, education and language policy and planning.

Longman
Language in Social Life Series
2001/400pp
0-582-40455-X/Pb/List: �19.99	

UK Orders
 +44 (0)1279 623322
 +44 (0)1279 414130
 enq.orderspearsoned-ema.com

For Europe and Rest of World please see ordering details on our website at:
 http://www.pearsoneduc.com/linguistics