LINGUIST List 14.1310

Wed May 7 2003

Books: Sociolinguistics, English: Crowley

Editor for this issue: Marisa Ferrara <marisalinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. f.kennedy, Standard English and the Politics of Language: Crowley

		
Title: Standard English and the Politics of Language
			
Publication Year: 2003
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
 http://www.palgrave.com
			
Availability: Available
 
Author: Tony Crowley, University of Manchester 

Hardback: ISBN: 0333990358, Pages: , Price: GBP45.00 $68.00
Paperback: ISBN: 0333990366, Pages: 304, Price: GBP17.99
Comment: Not available in the US
		
Abstract:
			
The 'Standard English' question has featured in linguistic,
educational and cultural debates for decades. At critical points in
British history the language became a symbol and focus, with
particular varieties of the language acquiring ideological
importance. In this careful and balanced account, Tony Crowley draws
on theoretical insights from Bakhtin, Foucault and Volosinov in a
study of representations of the English language from the eighteenth
century onwards, on the development of different concepts of the
'Standard Language' and the value attached within the wider society to
varieties of spoken and written English. Placing the 'Standard
English' question within its historical perspectiv he explores the
educational consequences of these debates, bringing the reader up to
date in this second edition with an analysis of the effect on English
language teaching of Conservative educational policies of the 1980s
and 90s and the implications of the National Curriculum. Students and
researchers of English language, cultural theory, and language
education will find this treatment comprehensive, carefully researched
and lively reading.

KEY FEATURES

1 Highly topical as literacy, teaching methods, standards of English
are again at the forefront of debate in Britain following the
introduction of the National Curriculum
2 Very detailed chronological historical account of the theory and
practice behind 'standard language' teaching from the 1830s to the
present
3 Additional chapter and updated bibliography bring the story up to
the present day, discussing the very significant policy debates and
changes of the 1990s
4 While the detail is about experience in Britain, the theory
andargumentation is generally relevant, with many of the intellectual
sources, Bakhtin, Foucault, Voloshinov, for example, informing the
discussion worldwide
5 A head-on challenge to the conservative view of the importance of
standard English

CONTENTS

Preface
Acknowledgement
Introduction
A History of 'The History of the Language'
Archbishop Trench's Theory of Language: The Tractatus
 Theologico-Politicus
The Standard Language: The Literary Language
The Standard Language: The Language of the Literate
Theorising the Standard: Jones and Wyld
Language Against Modernity
Continuities: Past and Present
Conclusion: Further Confusion: Kingman, Cox, The National Curriculum
 and After
Notes
Bibliography of Works Consulted
Index

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TONY CROWLEY was born and grew up in Liverpool. He has taught at the
Universities of Oxford, Southampton, Rutgers, Barcelona and San
Diego. He is currently Professor of English at the University of
Manchester. His publications include Proper English?, Language in
History and The Politics of Language in Northern Ireland.
			
Lingfield(s): Sociolinguistics
			 
Subject Language(s): English (Language Code: ENG)

Written In: English (Language Code: ENG)

 See this book announcement on our website:
 http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=6058