'This is a deeply insightful study of syntactic variation, weaving social practice with semantics and pragmatics to illuminate the social meaning of a heterogeneous range of syntactic variables. Based in a brilliant ethnography, this book also rediscovers class for the sociolinguist, in all its richness and as it is lived and spoken. A landmark study.' Penelope Eckert, Albert Ray Lang Professor Emerita, Stanford University
1. Why does the social meaning of grammar matter?; 2. The social landscape of Midlan High; 3. How do we study the social meaning of grammatical variation?; 4. How free are we to vary the grammar we use?; 5. How do we use grammar to design our talk?; 6. Does everyone use grammar to make social meaning?; 7. How does grammar combine with other elements of language?; 8. What does it mean to view grammar as a fluid, flexible social resource?.
