Language, Culture, and Society

What do linguistic anthropologists do? Why should we study language? How do the ways in which we communicate define our identities? And how is this all changing in the digital world? Since 1993, professors and students have turned to Language, Culture, and Society for answers to questions like those above because of its comprehensive coverage of all critical aspects of linguistic anthropology. This seventh edition continues the original “Americanist” vision of linguistic anthropology while addressing some of the newer pressing and exciting challenges of the twenty-first century, such as issues of language and power, language ideology, and linguistic diasporas. Chapters on gender, race, and class also examine how language helps create—and is created by—identity. New to this seventh edition are enhanced and updated pedagogical features, such as learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter, updated discussion questions and resources for continued learning, and the inclusion of a glossary of terms to help orient readers. There is also an expanded discussion of communication online and of social media outlets and how that universe is changing how we interact with one another. The discussion on race and ethnicity has also been updated to include an examination of Latin-American English vernacular. This seventh edition continues on the legacy of Language, Culture, and Society as the premier textbook for linguistic anthropology.