This book is a collection of eleven papers that present a comprehensive exploration of language diversity and linguistic prejudice in Brazil. The chapters of the book compile studies and reflections on such topics, drawing from Brazilian data.

Part 1 takes up fundamental sociolinguistic issues related to linguistic prejudice. Gladis Massini-Cagliari, Rosane Andrade Berlinck, & Angelica Rodrigues (chapter 1) explore Brazil's rich linguistic landscape, including non-standard Brazilian Portuguese, indigenous and other minority languages, as well as sign languages like Libras. Despite this diversity, many languages and dialects are marginalised, leading to widespread prejudice. In chapter 2, Paul O'Neill & Massini-Cagliari critique traditional methods for addressing linguistic prejudice, arguing that real change demands a societal shift in values beyond mere recognition of non-standard varieties. Luiz Carlos Cagliari (chapter 3) examines the impact of linguistic variation on social prejudice, particularly in early language acquisition, foregrounding the role of educators in addressing verbal discrimination to prevent bullying and exclusion within schools. Marcus Garcia Sene, Caoline Carnielli Biazolli, & Silvia Maria Brandão (chapter 4), shift focus to the digital realm, analysing how online societal evidence reflects subjective judgements of language use viewed as ‘irritating’, leading to the stigmatisation of these ‘mistakes’ due to adherence to standard language norms. Débora Aparecida dos Reis Justo Barreto & Massini-Cagliari (chapter 5) delve into the historical roots of linguistic prejudice, examining how orthographic standardisation has contributed to the stigmatisation of certain language variations (e.g. ‘rhotacism’ and ‘lambdacism’) in contemporary Brazilian Portuguese. Chapter 6, by Daniel Soares da Costa & Geisibel Cristina Andrade Nascimento, explores neologisms in Brazilian funk as markers of social identity for marginalised communities, challenging prejudices against these linguistic innovations.

Part 2 analyses linguistic prejudice in both Brazil's major Brazilian Portuguese-speaking communities and minor native and sign language communities. Milena Aparecida Almeida, Berlinck, & Stephen Levey (chapter 7) critique the prescriptive norms of standard Portuguese, arguing that these norms often overlook the variability of spoken language. Letícia Gaspar Pinto & Berlinck (chapter 8) explore pronominal variation in rural communities, revealing how social factors like age, education, and urbanisation shape language use. In chapter 9, Rodrigues, Camila Bordonal Clempi, & Rafael de Almeida Arruda Felix investigate the intersection of gender, sexuality, and language, challenging essentialist views and demonstrating how social theories can deepen analyses by considering the broader contexts that shape linguistic change. Chapter 10, by Rodrigues & Roland Pfau, challenges ableist biases against sign languages, emphasising their grammatical complexity and challenging misconceptions about their simplicity compared to spoken languages. Finally, Cristina Martins Fargetti & Mateus Cruz Maciel de Carvalho (chapter 11) tackle prejudice against indigenous peoples and languages in Brazil, attributing this bias to their under- and misrepresentation in media and education. To combat this, the authors suggest increasing awareness and interaction with indigenous cultures from an early age and properly training teachers to enhance visibility and respect for linguistic diversity.

This book represents a powerful collection of papers that underscore the significance of language diversity in Brazil, aiming to propose solutions to linguistic prejudice, social discrimination, and inequality. The authors strive to bridge the gap between academic research and public notions about linguistic diversity, advocating for mutual respect within societies. Therefore, this book will appeal to a diverse audience, including non-experts, schoolteachers, and sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology scholars seeking current insights on the topic.