Understanding Language Choices: a Guide to Sociolinguistic Assessment

Understanding Language Choices is an introductory textbook for anyone studying the motivations behind language use choices. It provides an introduction into the numerous factors, both internal and external, influencing such choices in a speech community: language attitudes, language learning, identity, the mobility of the community, and much more. The book also provides a foundation for the study of linguistic variation within a speech community, as well as an introduction to methods of data collection when studying the outcomes of language use choices. An important aspect of this book is its emphasis on a participatory approach to language choice research that empowers the speech community. The final chapter discusses lifestyle concerns that researchers may encounter when conducting field studies in developing nations.

Written with the beginner in mind, this textbook includes numerous examples and case studies from around the world to illustrate the realities of sociolinguistic field research. A companion website keeps users of the book up to date with descriptions of the most current research methodologies.

Table of Contents

Case Studies Preface

1. Introduction

• Some Distinctions
• Assessment's Contribution to Language Development
• Book Organization
• Further Reading

Restricted Language Choice

• Introduction
• Social Factors at the Restricted Level
• Typical Research Questions at the Restricted Level
• Typical Restricted-Level Research Tools
• Further Reading

Negotiated Language Choice

• Introduction
• Social Factors and Language at the Negotiated Level
• Typical Research Questions at the Negotiated Level
• Typical Negotiated Level Research Tools
• Further Reading

Free Language Choice

• Introduction
• Social Factors and Language at the Free Level
• Typical Research Questions at the Free Level
• Typical Free Level Research Tools
• Further Reading

Assessment Research

• Ethical Considerations
• Elements of Research Methodology
• The Secondary Research Stage
• The Primary Research Stage
• Participatory Process
• Academic Writing
• Technical Notes
• Further Reading

Making it Happen

• Human Resources
• Other Resources
• Stress Factors
• Further Reading

Glossary
Index