The Sociolinguistics of Globalization

by Jan Blommaert

Overview

Human language has changed in the age of globalization: no longer tied to stable and resident communities, it moves across the globe, and it changes in the process. The world has become a complex 'web' of villages, towns, neighbourhoods and settlements connected by material and symbolic ties in often unpredictable ways. This phenomenon requires us to revise our understanding of linguistic communication. In The Sociolinguistics of Globalization Jan Blommaert constructs a theory of changing language in a changing society, reconsidering locality, repertoires, competence, history and sociolinguistic inequality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521884068
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	04/08/2010
Series:	Cambridge Approaches to Language Contact
Pages:	230
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jan Blommaert is Professor of Linguistic Anthropology in the Department of Language and Culture Studies at Tilburg University, The Netherlands.

Table of Contents

1. A critical sociolinguistics of globalization; 2. A messy new marketplace; 3. Locality, the periphery and images of the world; 4. Repertoires and competence; 5. Language, globalization, and history; 6. Old and new inequalities; 7. Reflections.

Editorial Reviews

'Theoretically bold, clearly written, and politically engaged. The arguments are illustrated with a host of ingenious examples, drawn from many parts of the world.' James Collins, University at Albany, State University of New York

'We need a new sociolinguistics in the era of globalization. Jan Blommaert leads the way in developing the critical perspectives we now need to understand the global mobility of people and discourses, and new global sociolinguistic inequalities. His book is provocative, transformative and inspiring.' Nikolas Coupland, Centre for Language and Communication Research, Cardiff University

'[The] Sociolinguistics of Globalization is a wonderful addition to the changing field of sociolinguistics, and a must for any serious student of sociolinguistics. It should be clear that the research methodology presented therein is inspiring, and the need for further application is apparent.' The Linguist List

'Although it is a fairly slim book, it is packed with illustrative material from a wide range of sources.' David Deterding, Universiti Brunei Darussalam

'… this book is very inspiring and thought-provoking, and forces the readers to think and to relate to language with social reality.' Jingyang Jiang, Language Problems & Language Planning

From the Publisher