Why Do Linguistics?: Reflective Linguistics and the Study of Language

ISBN-13: 9781441166098 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 304 str.

Fiona English; Tim Marr

Opis

What do we need to know about language and why do we need to know it? This book shows how viewing the world through a linguistics lens can help us to understand how we communicate with each other and why we do it in the ways we do. Above all this book is about noticing. It is about encouraging readers to pay attention to the language that surrounds them. The book addresses fundamental linguistic questions such as: Where do people's beliefs about language come from? Who decides what language we should speak? How do we choose the best way to express what we mean? It introduces a set of practical tools for language analysis and, using examples of authentic communicative activity including overheard conversations, Facebook posts and public announcements, shows how this kind of analysis works and what it can tell us about social interaction.Exploring language and language use from a social, intercultural and multilingual perspective, the authors demonstrate the relevance of linguistics in understanding day-to-day interaction. This book will help readers not only to become informed, active observers of language for its own sake, but also to be able to take on and challenge some of the misconceptions, assumptions and prejudices that so often underlie public discussion of language issues.

Recenzje

The book provides good and inspiring reading on various topics concerning language in social life. ... [I]t covers a broad spectrum ... from linguistic ethnography, correctness, language variety and change, writtenness and spokenness to multilingualism, translanguaging, language myths, language at school and at work - all this with a clear focus on pragmatics and applied linguistics. ... English & Marr strive for linguistic awareness, and they passionately plead for awareness raised towards language in everyday communication. Whoever reads this book, is richly rewarded by a variety of information and stimulating discussions. Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching 20161007

Spis treści

Authors’ Acknowledgements Publisher’s Acknowledgements General Introduction Part I Introduction to Part I – Reflective Linguistics 1. About Noticing: Becoming a linguistic ethnographer 2. About Correctness : What is good language? 3. About Belonging : How does language enact community? 4. About Diversity : How do societies organise language? 5. About Difference : Do all languages work the same way? Part II Introduction to Part II – The Study of Language 6. Essential Linguistic Tools 7. A Framework for Analysis 8. Speaking and Spokenness 9. Writing and Writtenness 10. Choosing our Words Part III Introduction to Part III – Why Do Linguistics? 11. Translanguaging : When the mixed code is the code 12. Myths and Moral Panics? : Linguistics and the public domain 13. The Subject That Isn’t a Subject : Language at school 14. Communicating At The Sharp Edge : Linguistics and the workplace 15. So, Why Do Linguistics? References Index

O autorze

Fiona English is Honorary Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Applied Linguistics, IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, UK. Tim Marr is Visiting Professor in TESOL and Applied Linguistics at Universidad Icesi, Colombia.