Social Meaning and Linguistic Variation

The only book offering an overview of third-wave variation research and theory, which is an approach centered on social meaning.

The first of its kind, this groundbreaking book gives an overview of third-wave variation research and theory, an approach centered on social meaning. It examines several components of dialects, including pronunciation, grammar, and meaning, and considers language use in a wide variety of cultural and linguistic contexts.The 'third wave' of variation study, spearheaded by the sociolinguist Penelope Eckert, places its focus on social meaning, or the inferences that can be drawn about speakers based on how they talk. While social meaning has always been a concern of modern sociolinguistics, its aims and assumptions have not been explicitly spelled out until now. This pioneering book provides a comprehensive overview of the central tenets of variation study, examining several components of dialects, and considering language use in a wide variety of cultural and linguistic contexts. Each chapter, written by a leader in the field, posits a unique theoretical claim about social meaning and presents new empirical data to shed light on the topic at hand. The volume makes a case for why attending to social meaning is vital to the study of variation while also providing a foundation from which variationists can productively engage with social meaning.