This textbook is a lively introduction to the study of sociolinguistics, illustrating how language use influences an individual's status, social identities, and life opportunities, and how it often acts as a tool for certain groups to wield power over others. Classic sociolinguistic themes—such as language variation (e.g. Labov Reference Labov1966), code-switching (e.g. Blom & Gumperz Reference Blom, Gumperz, Gumperz and Hymes1972), language ideology (e.g. Kress & Hodge Reference Hodge and Kress1979), language dominance and minoritization (e.g. Grillo 1989), and language rights (e.g. Skutnabb-Kangas & Phillipson Reference Skutnabb-Kangas, Phillipson, Skutnabb-Kangas and Phillipson1994)—are revisited here in light of globalization and digital integration, which have prompted new interpretations (Tian & Zhao Reference Tian and Zhao2021). In addition, emerging themes such as linguistic landscapes, language and digital media, multimodality, superdiversity, and translanguaging (e.g. Kress & Van Leeuwen Reference Kress and Van Leeuwen2001; Blommaert Reference Blommaert2010, Reference Blommaert2013; Thurlow & Mroczek Reference Thurlow and Mroczek2011; García & Li Wei Reference García and Wei2014) are explored. Carefully selected activities and companion website resources are also integrated, providing valuable support for teachers and students.
The introductory chapter begins by illustrating how sociolinguistics contributes to understanding social issues deeply, positioning it as a tool to address societal challenges. It subsequently critiques the assumed self-evident notions of ‘society’ and ‘language’, pointing out that these concepts are coined by ideological positions and political agendas. To spark students’ interest in this field, the companion website offers video interviews with leading sociolinguists who share their experiences, insights, and research.
Chapter 1 probes into two prominent language ideologies: the monolingual ideology and the standard language ideology. The former views speaking a single language in a place as natural, while the latter upholds a single ‘standard’ language form as superior. Through a well-documented discussion, the authors reveal a paradox—while these ideologies shape nations and stratify societies, they represent unrealistic expectations. This perspective invites students to reconsider distinctions between different ‘languages’ and between ‘languages’ and ‘dialects’. To deepen this exploration, the companion website provides supplementary academic materials and real-life examples. Additionally, assignments on verbal hygiene research and guidance on conducting interviews enable students to develop foundational research skills in language ideology.
Chapter 2 explores ‘collections of resources’ (33) that individuals use (e.g. languages, registers, styles, genres) and examines the inequalities these resources reflect. They emphasize that communication relies on diverse linguistic resources, each conveying distinct indexical meanings. However, the unequal access to and mastery of these resources often mirrors broader societal disparities. Building on these insights, the companion website expands on concepts and research related to language resources. It also provides practical guidance on how to collect and analyze texts from specific social contexts, developing students’ skills in data collection and analysis.
Chapter 3 elucidates how linguistic variation marks individual ‘belonging’. It concludes that the relationship between linguistic and social variables pertains more to identities and boundaries, which are significant to the speakers themselves (e.g. social networks, communities of practice), whereas external classifications (e.g. class, gender) are less relevant. The authors argue that ‘varieties’, similar to ‘language’, are also socially constructed, as they are shaped by the values that individuals place on different ways of speaking to align with particular groups. The companion website assembles curated academic resources on language variation. Notably, this website includes project ideas from Barbara Johnstone and detailed guidance on ethnographic fieldwork methodologies. These provide students with illuminating models, topics, and operational guidance for conducting studies on language variation.
Chapter 4 examines multimodality and media as increasingly essential facets of modern communication. The authors first explore how multimodality conveys meaning, facilitates social actions, and reflects diverse identities. Then they illustrate how media have transformed message circulation, language ideologies, and social relationships. They further note that digital media can amplify marginalization and harassment, in addition to connection facilitation. This observation fosters a more cautious perspective on multimodal resources in the internet age. Building on this perspective, the companion website expands on media sociolinguistics and frontier multimodal research and features Erhan Aslan, who shares project ideas in language and digital media.
Chapter 5 centers on ‘mixing resources’ and the motivations behind it. The authors argue that language hybridity, while challenging linguistic purism, reflects normative language practices. Of particular interest is their discussion of tensions in educational contexts, where official language policies often clash with real-world practices. They conclude that linguistic choices are shaped by policies, contextual expectations, the values assigned to different resources, and the various ways of using them. Based on this, the companion website expands on code-switching, language mixing, and translanguaging contextualized within the backdrop of accelerated global mobility and growing digital social interaction. The website also offers targeted guidance to help students explore digital translanguaging practices.
Chapter 6 explores how individuals adopt different styles of language and communication resources to enact identities. The authors review sociolinguistic understandings of style from audience design, speaker design, and social situations design. They argue that these styling practices often reinforce stereotypes about how specific groups speak and behave, yet note that individuals, particularly in gender and sexuality, increasingly resist binary style norms. To enrich this discussion, the companion website invites Brian King to share his insights and research on gender and sexuality. The website also incorporates studies on queer linguistics and online styling, presenting a breadth of perspectives to enhance students’ comprehension and foster critical engagement with language style.
In chapter 7, the authors discuss attitudes toward communicative practices, which encompass both ‘linguistic judgments’ and broader considerations of factors such as class, race, gender, and region (147). Extending this insight, the companion website further introduces raciolinguistics and folk linguistics. In addition, the website encourages students to examine language mockery and appropriation on social media, which not only inspires students’ topic selections on the study of language attitudes but also hones their sensitivity to judgemental power inherent in language practices.
Chapter 8 pinpoints the interconnectedness of language and the material world. This chapter highlights how linguistic landscapes and human bodies serve as media for conveying ideologies, identities, and power relations. The authors note that these landscapes and semiotic practices allow communities to challenge authority, express diverse viewpoints, and promote peace and equality. The companion website supplements representative studies, authoritative academic journal resources, and thorough guidance on methodologies and the LinguaSnapp tool, which address students’ common challenges in linguistic landscapes research.
Chapter 9 delves into the concept of language ‘mobility’ in the context of globalization. The authors suggest that metaphors of ‘flow’ and ‘scale’ more aptly capture the mobility of language and its social implications than traditional ‘contact linguistics’. In this chapter, emphasis is placed on individuals’ ‘lived experiences’ as they navigate diverse local and transnational contexts (200). The companion website presents additional vivid materials on language mobility, and invites Tony Capstick to share insights about language in migration and provides recommendations for project ideas.
Overall, this textbook offers a comprehensive coverage of key contemporary topics and addresses common learning challenges—such as understanding theory, engaging with literature, conducting research, and analyzing data—through modular, focused sections. These sections not only enhance students’ theoretical grounding and research competence but also support teachers in lesson planning. In addition, its extensive, high-quality online resources provide boundless space for academic learning across various topics. Beyond its teaching support, the textbook also stands out for its scholarly contributions. First, it focuses on studying living languages in their social contexts and highlights the dynamic and specific nature of sociolinguistic research. Second, it offers thought-provoking perspectives on social issues by criticizing entrenched ideologies. Finally, it underscores the importance of the emic research approach and encourages students to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives for a deeper exploration of language and society.
However, while applauding these transformative ideas, the textbook does not mention to students and educators the potential downsides: how challenging traditional language ideologies may complicate language education, mutual understanding, and social cohesion. In spite of this, this textbook is generally a highly valuable read for students and researchers in sociolinguistics, which offers illuminating insights into the field.
