In his new textbook, Coulmas provides readers an easy introduction to sociolinguistics, using speaker choice as the central notion for discussion. In a comfortable conversational style, the author slowly introduces topics, using common examples to demonstrate how sociolinguists think about language use. He provides summaries of findings of key sociolinguistic studies that illustrate ideas without overloading readers with unnecessary and cumbersome details of those studies. The book is accessible for beginning sociolinguistics students and is equally engaging for those already familiar with sociolinguistic concepts, largely because the author uses such interesting and global research to illustrate ideas.
The book consists of 13 chapters in two parts (“Micro-choices” and “Macro-choices”) that cover discussions of standard languages vs. dialects, language and gender, language development, language death, and language change, among other topics. Coulmas connects these topics with the idea that speakers make choices about language, which is the underlying notion of sociolinguistics: “The position taken in this book is that although people do not necessarily think before they speak – for which there is a lot of evidence – they are able to do so in principle” (p. 39). Each chapter opens with a quote that pertains to the upcoming topic, and the quotes become more meaningful after the chapter is completed and understood. Each chapter concludes with five insightful discussion questions that not only reinforce topics covered but also allow readers to think about their own concepts and consequences of linguistic choice.
Chapter 1, “Notions of language,” is an introduction to the fundamental ideas of the study of language: People are born with the capacity for language, and speech is a cooperative endeavor. The first chapter presents the ideas necessary to embark on a sociolinguistic study of language, or rather, the study of linguistic choice. Coulmas reviews the arguments about whether language is learned or acquired, conceding that both sides are right to some extent. Moreover, he explains that language learning often implies change.
In chapter 2, “Standard and dialect,” Coulmas introduces the Western variationist paradigm as a departure from traditional linguistics. He also acknowledges that although the Western tradition of sociolinguistics seems to dominate the field, researchers in places like India and Japan sought the connection between language and society before this endeavor became prevalent in the West. He cautions against applying Western paradigms to other societies, because sociolinguists should not generalize this approach. Coulmas tackles the difficult task of determining what constitutes a standard variety vs. a dialect, and how our concepts of social class and stratification contribute to that delineation. By citing several landmark studies, he illustrates that socially upward mobility does not always mean linguistic homogenization toward the standard.
Chapter 3, “Gendered speech,” treats language and gender, leading with the debate about difference vs. dominance while introducing ideas about linguistic determinism and relativism. Additionally, the author discusses how men and women differ in terms of their preference for lexical items, syntactic structure, discourse, and performance strategies. Despite these differences, he reiterates that language is a cooperative practice. Language change happens slowly except when there is a purposeful change – for example, to rid language of sexist overtones and expressions.
Chapter 4, “Communicating across generations,” tackles language across time, showing how it is in a constant state of change. Coulmas traces language through the lifespan, starting with language acquisition and parental contributions to that process with modified baby speech. He then follows the lifespan from childhood through adolescence and adulthood and finally to old age. He points out that the clash between generations always makes it seem as if language has deteriorated (and of course the youth are always to blame). What is most interesting about this chapter is the discussion of the Japanese high-school-girl language kogyaru kotoba, which speakers accompany with nonlinguistic features like dress, hairstyles, and makeup.
Chapter 5, “Choice and change,” focuses on apparent time as opposed to real time, making it possible to grasp how language change actually happens. The concept of apparent time, rooted in the critical period hypothesis, suggests that people retain major linguistic characteristics with no significant change from the time they acquire language as children through old age. Coulmas illustrates this well with the Tsuruoka study of language standardization in Japan, which displays socially motivated change in language behavior. The chapter concludes with summaries of research suggesting that both men and women can lead change. However, it is hard to determine the true leaders without more research or knowledge of earlier points in history.
Chapter 6, “Politeness,” ends part I of the book with a discussion of politeness, where social constraints on language are more obvious. Politeness is the practice of conforming linguistic action to current social expectations that are bound to speech communities. Coulmas presents an extensive review of the literature on politeness, with representative studies from such places as India, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and Korea among others.
Chapter 7, “Code-switching,” opens part II's discussion of macro-choices with a description of code-switching. Coulmas emphasizes that although the first half of the book leads one to believe that language is homogeneous, clearly it is not. The second half addresses language as social fact. Additionally, unlike the first part of the book, which deals primarily with variations within one language, the second part deals with issues that cross language boundaries. Coulmas explains that the relationship between code-switching and borrowing is one of frequency. Here the author attempts to answer questions such as who code-switches, why they do it, and how it occurs, using several examples to explain the process.
Chapter 8, “Diglossia and bilingualism,” explores cases in which speakers base linguistic choice more on function and context. Coulmas questions whether a genetic relationship between languages is a requirement for diglossia. He clarifies that no matter how the languages are related, speakers still choose varieties based on social conventions. He continues with a discussion of topics associated with diglossic situations, including writing conventions, standardization, and linguistic ideology. Moreover, the author addresses issues associated with community, such as accommodation, social networks, and the ways in which researchers measure bilingualism.
Chapter 9, “Language spread, shift, and maintenance,” continues the discussion of diglossia with its stability over time. The ways in which languages spread, shift, and are maintained are addressed. Additionally, Coulmas presents a selection of survey questions included in the Ethnic Diversity Survey of the government of Canada, suggesting that if researchers conduct a survey like this at regular intervals, they can easily track language tendencies.
Chapter 10, “Language and identity,” delves into the idea that language reflects identity – it is a symbol of “us-ness,” individual, social, and national. Moreover, speakers project multiple identities. Hence, sociolinguistic research on language and identity faces the task of determining what motivates the use of one variant over another. Identity change via language is possible, although sometimes difficult. The chapter concludes with a discussion of how speakers constantly construct identity through language choice.
In chapter 11, “Language planning,” Coulmas addresses language planning and language policy and why both occur, pointing out that there is an operational assumption that planning and policy can manipulate and change language use. He explains that language planning differs from language development because the former is a deliberate choice. Language policy attempts to perpetuate, establish, or change a language regime. In this chapter, Coulmas provides numerous examples of language planning involving the counter to natural language development. He also provides a list of countries that have constitutional provisions for language and one of countries without constitutional provisions that relate to linguistic rights.
Chapter 12, “Select letters,” introduces readers to issues involving writing systems. Writing systems require learning: Speakers do not acquire them as they do oral language. The author covers issues such as choosing a variety, a writing system, and a script, and considering spelling conventions.
Chapter 13, “Language of choice,” ends the book with a discussion with how English has captured the world (or rather how the world has been captured by English) despite its never being promoted by a central language-planning organization. Coulmas ponders how an international language can benefit society without adversely affecting other languages.
What is impressive about this book is the breadth of research used to explain sociolinguistic topics. Studies from all over the world appear in it without a preference for Western research, which is often the benchmark for sociolinguistic research. Although this book does not, and conceivably cannot, answer some of the major questions existing in the study of language in society (much to the embarrassment of linguists, the author notes), Coulmas presents current topics well. Moreover, his writing is clear and engaging, making the book a valuable resource for an introductory sociolinguistics class.
