Language and Identity

Offering a uniquely broad-based overview of the role of language choice in the construction of national, ethnic and religious identity, this textbook examines a wide range of specific cases from various parts of the world in order to arrive at some general principles concerning the links between language and identity. It will benefit students and researchers in a wide range of fields where identity is an important issue and who currently lack a single source to turn to for an overview of sociolinguistics.

Preface Introduction Linguistic Identity and the Function and Evolution of Language Approaching Identity in Traditional Linguistic Analysis Integrating Perspectives from Adjacent Disciplines Language in National Identities Case Study 1 - The New Quasi-Nation of Hong Kong Language in Ethnic/Racial and Religious/Sectarian Identities Case Study 2 - Christian and Muslim Identities in Lebanon Afterword: Identity and the Study of Language Bibliography Index