Language and Linguistic Diversity in the US: An Introduction

by Susan Tamasi, Lamont Antieau

Overview

This highly engaging textbook presents a linguistic view of the history, society, and culture of the United States. It discusses the many languages and forms of language that have been used in the US – including standard and nonstandard forms of English, creoles, Native American languages, and immigrant languages from across the globe – and shows how this distribution and diversity of languages has helped shape and define America as well as an American identity. The volume introduces the basic concepts of sociolinguistics and the politics of language through cohesive, up-to-date and accessible coverage of such key topics as dialectal development and the role of English as the majority language, controversies concerning language use in society, languages other than English used in the US, and the policies that have directly or indirectly influenced language use.

These topics are presented in such a way that students can examine the inherent diversity of the communicative systems used in the United States as both a form of cultural enrichment and as the basis for socio-political conflict. The author team outlines the different viewpoints on contemporary issues surrounding language in the US and contextualizes these issues within linguistic facts, to help students think critically and formulate logical discussions. To provide opportunities for further examination and debate, chapters are organized around key misconceptions or questions ("I don't have an accent" or "Immigrants don't want to learn English"), bringing them to the forefront for readers to address directly.

Language and Linguistic Diversity in the US is a fresh and unique take on a widely taught topic. It is ideal for students from a variety of disciplines or with no prior knowledge of the field, and a useful text for introductory courses on language in the US, American English, language variation, language ideology, and sociolinguistics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415806688
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/02/2014
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Susan Tamasi is Senior Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Program in Linguistics, Emory University. She has presented at NWAV, AAAL, Sociolinguistics Symposium, and American Dialect Society, Her areas of research include sociolinguistics, language variation, language attitudes, American English, and health communication.

Lamont Antieau is an independent language consultant who has held positions as Research Associate (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Visiting Instructor (Western Carolina University), and Lecturer (Mississippi State University). He has presented at NWAV, American Dialect Society, Southeastern Conference on Linguistics, and International Association of Forensic Linguists. His areas of research include language variation, dialectology, American English, corpus linguistics, and biomedical informatics.

Table of Contents

1. Language and Linguistics 2. Grammar, Standardization, and Language Authorities 3. Language Attitudes 4. Colonial American English 5. Regional Variation in American English 6. Social Variation in American English 7. African American English 8. Standard American English 9. Multilingual America 10. Spanish as a Heritage Language 11. Other Heritage Languages 12. Native American Languages 13. Pidgins and Creoles in the United States 14. American Sign Language 15. Official English

Editorial Reviews

"Developing a textbook for the diverse group of students—usually with no background in linguistics—who typically enroll in a course on language in the U.S. presents special challenges. In an engaging and accessible way, this book strikes an excellent balance between presentation of key linguistics concepts alongside important aspects of U.S. history and society. It will be useful as a primary book in its own right or as a foundation for exploration of more specialized topics."
—Jeff Good, University at Buffalo

"Language and Linguistic Diversity in the US is an engaging text that equips students to explore and explain the linguistic world around them. Tamasi and Antieau have created a text that is modern, informative, and entertaining while introducing students to the study of language variation. In this text, the authors lay an excellent foundation for students beginning study in sociolinguistics and provide the scaffolding for students to take their study further."
—Becky Childs, Coastal Carolina University

"Tamasi and Antieau’s thorough text provides a fresh perspective on foundations in language variation, identity, and ideology. By centering the value of linguistic diversity and the rich histories of languages and dialects in the U.S., the authors give beginning students an accessible path through key ideas in sociolinguistics, and encourage further exploration through the numerous examples, discussion questions, and suggested activities that accompany each chapter."
—Anastasia Nylund, Georgetown University

From the Publisher